The Metropolitan See of Salona: Spalatum in Post-Frankish, Partly Byzantine, Dalmatia in the 920s

A key source for this study is canon 1 of the Synod of Spalatum in 925, which stipulates that the metropolitan see in Dalmatia was established in Spalatum. It states: “Since long ago Blessed Domnius was sent by Peter the Apostle to preach in Salona, he has established that this church and city, where his holy remains rest, shall have primacy among all the Churches of this province and shall legitimately obtain the name of metropolis over all the dioceses, therefore by the order of its bishops, who by divine grace retain this see, the synod and consecration of the bishops shall be celebrated, because the Lord says: Where he is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” Unlike most of the Balkan Peninsula, the ecclesiastical province of Dalmatia was subject to the jurisdiction of the Roman Church. In terms of its political affiliation, the region of Dalmatia was under the authority of Byzantium in part, and in part represented at least two political entities: Croatia and Hum. These Slavic archontates were dependent on the Frankish Empire in the 9th century. This paper posits the reliability of the aforementioned decision. This is necessary due to the fact that the documents concerning the synod and events in Dalmatia in the 920s are preserved in a manuscript from the early 16th century and the task of their verification has not yet been solved. The issue of the organisation of the metropolis of Dalmatia is of particular significance when viewed through the lens of the problem of the diocese of Illyricum in the context of the relations between Constantinople and Rome. This examination will be conducted within the framework of European ecclesiastical law. The texts from the Frankish period are used as the primary material for comparison.