Domitian of Carantania

This article is about an eighth-century saint. For other people also named Domitian, see Domitian (disambiguation).

Saint Domitian
220px Domitian depicted in a fresco of 1429, Millstatt Abbey church
Duke of Carantania
Born	8th century
Died	c. 802 Millstatt Carantania, Carolingian Empire (today: Carinthia, Austria)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	Pre-congregational saint by before Alexander III Pre-Tridentine Calendar
Major shrine	Sanctuary of Millstatt Abbey
Feast	5 February
Attributes	with: sword, crown, idol in hands
Patronage	Carantania, Carinthia, Millstatt; parents who have lost children, calms the storm, cures the fever

Domitian of Carantania, or Domitian of Carinthia (German: Domitian von Kärnten, Slovene: Domicijan Koroški, also known as Domislav and Tuitianus; died c. 802) was a Slavic nobleman in the principality of Carantania (present-day Carinthia, Austria) during the reign of Charlemagne. He is regarded as the legendary founder of the Millstatt Abbey church and was venerated as a Catholic Saint.

Tradition

File:Millstatt Domitian Statue See.jpg

Domitian’s statue in the middle of the Millstätter See.

File:Domitian von Kaernten Reliquienschrein 01.JPG

Romanesque sarcophagus with relics of St. Domitian

Valvasor’s view of the Mülstatt in 1688.

File:Millstatt Ost Steinschicht 1900.jpg

Millstatt in year 1900.

The vita of Domitian is documented in a parchment handwriting from the early 15th century; a transcript of earlier reports written in several phases between 1170 and 1306. According to it, he was the successor of the third Christian duke of Carantania, Valtunk, who ruled under the overlordship of Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria from 772. However, in the Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum, a Latin written work which deals with the history of Carantania, the princes Pribislav, Semika, Stojmir and Etgar are listed as are listed Valtunk's successors and Domitian's name is not mentioned.

In 1907, the cultural historian Robert Eisler in his essay The legend of the Saint Carantanian duke Domitian argued that Domitian was only an invention of the Benedictine monks of Millstatt Abbey. Compiled in the 12th century, the legend served as a tool to shake off the yoke of the Vogts from the noble House of Gorizia, who derived the jurisdiction from their Aribonid ancestors as founders of the monastery. While initially many historians agreed with him, later generations clarified that in the vita of Domitian, the Bavarian count palatine Aribo II (d. 1102) is mentioned as the founder of the Millstatt convent. Moreover, the feast day of Domiciani ducis on February 5 already appeared in a preserved liturgical calendar from about 1160; another entry Domicianus dux fundator huius ecclesiae is found in a 12th-century obituary.

Today, historians argue that the Domitian legend of the man and the emergence of the Millstatt church is based on true events. As a Slavic nobleman, he may have lived around 788, at the time when Charlemagne deposed the Bavarian overlord Tassilo III. He probably was baptized as a young man in Salzburg by Bishop Vergilius and returned to Carantania as a local ruler under Frankish suzerainty. Some historians believe that Domitian before his baptism was called Domislav.

Legend

Latin text

English translation

Constat itaque beatum Domicianum ducem quondam Quarantane terre extitisse, ut in epitaphio tumbe illius in lapide ita exaratum invenimus »In nomine Patris et Fiìii et Spirìtus Sancti. Hic requiescit beatus Domitianus dux, primus fundator huius ecclesie, qui convertit istum populum ad christianitatem ab infidelitate«. Ad hec sub quo tempore conversatus fuerit, ibidem continebatur, sed negligencia et vicio antiquorum abolita sunt. Hic cum baptizatus a sancto Rudberto fuisset, ut quidam asserunt, sive ab aliquo successorum suorum, quibus magis favemus, locum adiit Milstatensem et culturam illic demonum non modicam invenit, quemadmodum etymologia nominis loci illius liquido ostendit. Milstat enim a mille statuis nomen accepit, quas ibidem populus errore delusus antiquo coluit, quas ille felix exemplo Bonifacii pape destruxit et eliminata omni spurcicia demonum ecclesiam, que primitus mille demonibus fuit addicta, in honore omnium sanctorum post modum consecrari fecit. Qui cum bona conversacione et felici consumacione cursum vite sue, prout modo merita ipsius declarant, sine querela coram deo et hominibus expleret, venerabile corpus eius in edicula iuxta maiorem ecclesiam est reconditum.

It is generally known, that once lived blessed Domitian, prince of Carantanian territory, as we found in the inscription on his grave so carved in stone: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Here lies blessed duke Domitian, the first founder of this church, who led the nation from infidelity to Christianity." It was just there declared, in addition, in which time he lived; yet those words were destroyed due to the negligence and mistakes of old people. When he was baptized by the holy Rupert, as some believe, or by one of his successors, which we are more prone, came in district of Millstatt. There he found inordinately worship of idols, which clearly shows the source of local names. Millstatt is in fact named after a thousand statues (=mille statuæ), which is right there venerated people, which is seduced about fooled ancient fallacy. They were destroyed from ba blessed by the example of pope Boniface and transformed, when he removed all superstition idols from church, which was originally awarded to a thousand idols, soon then consecrated to honor of All Saints. When this without charge before God and man fulfilled the course of his life, which is well behaved and it ended fortunately, as it is evidenced by just his merits, they laid his body worthy of respect in the chapel next to the main church.

This legend contains the basic historical message of the Slovenian Carantanian duke Domitian; also a writer in her embroiled report on the origin of the town name Millstatt, as well as the consecration of the pagan temple for the Christian church by duke. Historical data that follow from the legend of this Carantanian duke: his stand, conversion to Christianity, foundation of Millstatt's church and its burial in it - they would briefly as follows:
The fact is, that the Duke Domitian lived. Since he was baptized, he came to Millstatt’s locality and there encountered the worship of idols, which he destroyed. The cleaned pagan temple he gave to dedicate on the glory of All Saints. He lived virtuously; he was buried in the Millstatt’s church.

The legend of the origin of the name Millstatt and of its monastery

According to this legend, would be Lake Millstatt in the eighth century much larger than today and should be stretched all the way to the surrounding hills. On one of the hills - opposite to today’s Millstatt - would be settled Slovenian fortification, where had his residence Domitian, pagan Duke of Carantania. Domitian had a son, who one day, despite his father's prohibition and windy weather delivered to go by boat on the lake.

When the son until the following morning did not return, and the duke on the lake noticed overturned boat, ordered his subjects to divert water from the lake and to empty it until they find son's corpse. He promitted: “On the place, where they will find the body, I shall build a church and mymself convert to Christianity.” To the west of the lake the subjects removed the whole hill, that separated the lake from the river Lieser, so that the water level dropped, and a few days ago found dead son.

Domitian was then baptized and beside the tomb of his son built the Christian church. After the conversion he commanded to gather a thousand statues of pagan gods and goddesses and throw them into the lake. Around the church in turn later gradually grew a place, which we now call Millstatt (Milštat).

1. Its name is derived from legend of Domitian, where a Latin term mentions mille statuæ - a thousand statues, which he ordered to destroy in the lake.
2. Other linguists derive the name of the place from the mill (de: Mühle, sl: mlin), because there were many mills around the lake.
3. The third opinion derives it from the brook in neighbourhood. Trying to give one more realistic interpretation of the implementation of the name of Millstatt is maybe from the name of the stream that session once called Mils (now Leitenbach) and which should be Celtic origin The word means 'mountain stream', but in fact it is a "Mela"; that means in Slovenian the water that brings meli or. sand and gravel, to which also corresponds a newer version of German word Leitenbach.
4. However, some carried the name for Milštat also from the Slovenian word milost (kraj milosti). In connection with the miraculous events in this place has such interpretation its sense.

Significant finding

The gravestone, which lay on the grave, bears a Latin inscription, which is known from his “Vita” (Life). The inscription would read, by the assay reconstruction of Carinthian archaeologist and historian Franz Glaser:

† HIC•QVIESCIT•DOMITIA
NVS•DVX•QVI•KAROLI•IMP•
TEMPORIBUS•PAGANITA
TEM•DEVICIT•ET•POPVLVM•
AD FIDEM CONVERTIT

(la: † Hic quescit Domitianus dux qui Karoli imp temporibus paganitatem devici tet populum ad fidem convertit sl: Tukaj počiva vojvoda Domicijan, ki je v času cesarja Karla premagal poganstvo in privedel ljudstvo k veri. en: Here rests the Duke Domitian, who at the time of the Emperor Charlemagne conquered paganism and led people to faith.

The historians through hundred years thought, that Saint Domitian is only one legend. In year 1992 however archaeologists at one archaeological excavation suddenly discovered in Millstatt a piece of an original plate with a part of inscription, which was once placed over his grave and was found in his resume. On this fragment exist the parts of these words: quescit, Domitianus, Karoli imp., paganita. Franz Glaser found, that these are the remains of the original panel. Archaeologist and historian Glaser concluded therefore, that Domitian was not legendary, but the real historical person, who has now his "Sitz in Leben" and he ruled - according to the inscription - at the time of Charlemagne.

Veneration

Public veneration of Domitian and his wife Mary began very early after his death and reached its height (peak) in the 15th century. On his grave should take place numerous and various miracles. There are reports about solemn processions and about a wearing of Domitian's relics. They're talking also about a thief, which came with his prey in this popular place of pilgrimage in Millstatt; but there he became paralyzed and he could no more leave the sanctuary. The people believed, that the Domitian’s intercession tames raging Lake Millstatt during the storms and that especially helps the sicks, which have fever.

Since 1405 is in Millstatt known Domitians fraternity, 1441 however relics of Domitian, his wife Mary and their sons were transferred to the sacristy of the monastery. Veneration of St. Domitian was particularly encouraged Order of St. George. In honor of protector of Carinthia the people set a marble monument. When in 1478 the Ottomans during the plundering in monastery damaged the tombstone, grave was restored using other, probably even older and intact tombstone. Today its remains were found in Domician's chapel of the monastery’s church in Millstatt.

Veneration of the Holy Domitian as provincial patron saint of Carinthia inclined Jesuit Father Matthias Rieberer that in 1761, decided to apply to Rome for official confirmation of the cult. It seems that he acted on his own hand beside jesuit leadership. In the negotiations involved the Inner Austrian bishops of diocese Salzburg, Gurk, Seckau, Lavant, Ljubljana and Gorica with proper application, as well as the imperial court and Maria Theresa, but not official representatives of the order. When the company failed, it actually had no effect on Domitijan’s veneration; its justification - in terms of canonical papal recognition - gives the fact that dates back to the times before Pope Alexander III (1159-1181), and that therefore any papal confirmation of fact, it is not necessary.

Today, the center of cult found place in Domitian’s chapel of the monastery church in Millstatt. There can be seen the tomb and some relics.

Domitian still today has a special place in the life of Catholic Church in Carinthia. In his honor in Domitian’s chapel every year on 5 February perform the memorial prayer. On 25th Juni, 2007 was in honor of Saint Domitian 25. traditional “Srečanje treh dežel” in Millstatt.

On the pedestal in the middle of the Lake Millstatt today stays 4,20 m high plastic of Friulian sculptor Giorgio Igne. Duke Domitian represents in the moment when he casts into the lake a pagan idol.

See also

• List of saints
• History of Slovenia
• History of Austria
• Duchy of Carinthia

Further reading

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External links

En:

• Domitian of Kärnten
• The Ducal Coronation
• Reliquary of St. Domitian,Domitian-chest,Millstatt,Carinthia,Austria,Europe

Sl:

• Karantanski svetniki med zgodovinsko resnico in politično ideologijo (Saints of Carantania between historical thruth and political ideology)
• Miroslav Bertoncelj: Slovenskega svetnika so Avstrijci ponemčili (Slovenian saint Germans germanizated)
• Sveti Domicijan, vojvoda in svetnik - zavetnik Karantanije
• Romanje k sv. Domicijanu v Milštatu
• Viteški red svetega Jurija v Milštatu

De:

• Der heilige Domitian und die Entstehung von Millstatt
• Der Millstättersee und die Domitian-Legende. Von Josef Lorber, Seeboden-Graz, März 1912
• Domitian Pilgerweg Millstatt
• Der Sagenhafte Domitian
• Domitian von Millstatt
• Domitian Pilgerweg
• Der erfundene heilige Domitian. Der angebliche Gründer von Millstatt
• Wer war Domitian?