The role of church furniture in the communication of identity in early medieval Croatia

Sa？etak The early medieval Croatian Duchy emerged and developed in a close relation with the Frankish Empire, and the new identity of the local elite in the Dalmatian hinterland was also formed within this context. In the earlier period, the key role in its communication was played by luxury items of Carolingian origin deposited in graves, but such practices generally ceased by the middle third of the 9th century. This paper contains a detailed discussion of what followed, primarily the time and context of the formation and development of the Croatian Duchy and ducal authority and its succession. This period was rather turbulent, with rulers often finding themselves in a precarious position even within the confines of their own state. Under such conditions, they often looked to the Church for support of their authority. Since the names of rulers and other members of the elite, as well as ethnic designations, are indeed carved into church furniture, it may be asserted that one component of the communication of their identity was in fact conveyed to this medium. In this light, the construction of pre-Romanesque churches will be analysed, particularly the stone altar screens and their frequent alteration during the 9th century