Croatia

Constantine Porphyrogenitus tells the story of the Croats’ migration into the Roman province of Dalmatia twice: in sections 30 and 31 of his treatise De Administrando Imperio. ¹ The two stories partially contradict each other. According to the first story, the Croats migrated on their own initiative, while according to the second story the Emperor Heraclius invited them. In section 30, Porinos is named as their prince, who is said to have adopted Christianity. According to section 31, however, this prince was named Porgas. Both sections belong to the so-called “Balkan file,” probably written by Leo VI, Constantine VII’s father. ² The source of neither section is known. It seems that section 30 is based on the Croatian historical tradition, but section 31 is derived from some Byzantine source. The first story also contains the names of the seven siblings who led the Croats into Dalmatia:

But the Croats at that time were dwelling beyond Bavaria, where the Belocroats [White Croats] are now. From them split off a family of five brothers, Kloukas and Lobelos and Kosentzis and Mouchlo and Chrobatos, and two sisters, Touga and Bouga, who came with their folk to Dalmatia and found the Avars in possession of that land. ³