Reference articles on history, science, culture and more
Encyclopedia

Miliduch

Duke of the Sorbs

Miliduch or Miliduh (Latin: Miliduoch, Polish: Miłyduch, Serbian: Милидух; d. 806) was an Early Slavic ruler (duke) of the Sorbs, a Polabian Slavic ancestral tribe of modern Sorbs.

Formerly allied to Charlemagne, the Sorbs ended their vassalage to the Franks and rebelled, invading Austrasia. King Charles the Younger launched a campaign against the Slavs in Bohemia in 805, and after killing Duke Lecho of the Bohemians, Charles himself crossed the Saale with his army in 806 and clashed with Polabian Slavs near modern-day Weißenfels, gaining victory, while Slavic duke Miliduch fell in the battle. The region was laid to waste, upon which the other Slavic chieftains submitted and gave hostages.

In the Royal Frankish Annals, he is mentioned as a Slavic duke Miliduoch (Latin: Sclavorum dux) in relation to events that took place in the land of the Slavs, who are called Sorbs (Latin: in terram Sclavorum qui dicuntur Sorabi), while in the Annales Maximiniani he is similarly recorded as Milidoch, a duke (Latin: dux) in the land of the Slavs, who are called Sorbs (Latin: in terra Sclavanorum qui Suurbi dicuntur). Also, in the Chronicle of Moissac (Latin: Chronicon Moissiacense), he is mentioned as „Milito” or „Melito”, a king who ruled over Sorbs (Latin: rex superbus qui regnabat in Siurbis).

Watch videos about MiliduchExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Miliduch, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.