European Kingdoms

Istria

The Istrian peninsula lies in modern northwest Croatia and western Slovenia. Istria was a possession of the Eastern Roman empire and then a province of Carinthia until it established a margraviate of its own in 1062.

728

The Byzantines recover the exarchate of Ravenna, although control over Venice is weaker now that the city has its own elected doge in place of a Roman tribune. The remaining territory within the exarch consists of Ferrara, Istria, the Pentapolis, Perugia, and Ravenna's immediate surroundings.

807

The intervention of the Niceta fleet reaffirms Byzantine sovereignty over the lagoon region of Venice, Istria and Dalmatia.

944

Istrian pirates kidnap some intended Venetian brides on 31 January, but they are soon freed at Caorle.

1000

Pietro Orseolo II of Venice leads an expedition against Slavonic pirates, becoming doge of Venice, Istria and Dalmatia.

Margraves of Istria

1062 - 1070

Ulrich I Weimar-Orlamunde

First margrave.

1070 - 1077

The title is vacant, and control may pass back to Carinthia.

1077 - 1090

Henry I Eppenstein

Died 1127.

1090 - 1096

Engelbert I Spanheim-Ortenburg

1096 - 1100

Poppo Weimar

1100 - 1103

Ulrich II Weimar

1103 - 1134

Engelbert II Spanheim-Ortenburg

Died 1141.

1134 - 1171

Engelbert III Spanheim-Ortenburg

Died 1173.

1171 - 1188

Berthold I Andechs

1172 - 1204

Berthold II Andechs

Joint rule.

1204 - 1209

Henry II of Meran

Died 1228.

1209 - 1215

The title passes to Aquileia.

1215 - 1230

Otto of Meran

Died 1234.

1230 - 1251

Berthold III

Patriarch of Aquilea (1218-1251).

1251 - 1420

The title passes to Aquileia.

1314

Venice annexes Istrian Muggia.

1420 - 1797

The margraviate is partitioned between Austria and Venice.

1797 - 1805

Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of the French First Republic begins campaigning against Austria in northern Italy, starting with the Battle of Rivoli on 14-15 January. The Treaty of Leoben is signed with Austria on 17 April, which leads to the loss for Austria of the Austrian Netherlands and Lombardy, but which gains it the Venetian territories of Dalmatia and Istria in return. The treaty is confirmed and extended by the Treaty of Campo Formio, which is signed on 17 October 1797.

1805 - 1810

Istria is merged with the French First Empire's kingdom of Italy under Napoleon Bonaparte's control.

1810 - 1814

Following a further Austrian defeat in 1809, at the Battle of Wagram, Bavaria agrees to grant the Tyrol to Italy, while Istria, Dalmatia and Ragusa are incorporated into the new Illyrian Provinces.

1814 - 1918

Austria takes Istria back, detaching it from Italy. Following Austria's humiliating defeat by Prussia in 1866, Istria gains autonomy as a province within Austria.

1918 - 1943

In the secret Treaty of London of 26 April 1915, Italy agrees to abandon its allies, Germany and Austria-Hungary, declaring war on them instead. Italy has been promised territory in compensation for its change of allegiance, which will certainly be at Austria's expense. With the collapse of Austria's empire at the end of the First World War, and the agreement of a ceasefire on 3 November 1918, Italy inherits the province of Istria.

1943 - 1945

The territory is controlled by Nazi Germany.

1945 - 1991

The peninsula is made part of Communist Yugoslavia.

1991

As Yugoslavia falls apart, Istria becomes part of the republic of Croatia.