Counts · Kingdom of Croatia and Dalmatia · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Counts of Krk: Modruš and Vinodol

The counts of Krk, Venice's vassals for their island, also hold land on the Croatian mainland.

In the first half of the 12th century they had held Vinodol and Senj on the coast opposite; they came back to the mainland at the end of the century. A charter of 1193 records that Béla III gave the county of Modruš as a hereditary fief to Count Bartol of Krk; some historians (N. Klaić) take it for a later forgery, but the Hrvatska enciklopedija does not rule out that its content is true, and Vinodol, a royal domain since 1102, presumably came with it as part of Modruš county.

The Hrvatski biografski leksikon treats the later charters of 1209 and 1223 for Modruš and Vinodol as forgeries. Senj itself has been the Templars' since 1184 (Church map). As duke, Andrew worked with the house (Curta 2006, Fine 1994). Their double allegiance, Venice for Krk and the Hungarian crown for Modruš, sits across the Venetian war for Zara.

Who he is

Name
The house of Dujam: the 1193 charter is addressed to Count Bartol (Bartholomew, called Bartol II in Croatian works); his kinsmen Vid II and Henrik (sons of Bartol I) and Ivan I (son of Vid I) made the house's compact with Doge Enrico Dandolo in 1198. Which of them governs Modruš that winter is not pinned.
Title
Counts of Krk (comites Vegle), holding Modruš of the Hungarian-Croatian crown
Since
1193 by the charter of Béla III (authenticity disputed)
Born
not pinned
Family
The later Frankopans (Frankapani); the island of Krk is theirs under Venice (Counts of Krk (island) on the Northern Italy map; dal on this sheet).
Confidence
low

Hrvatska enciklopedija (Modruš; Vinodol; Frankapani); Hrvatski biografski leksikon (Frankapan); English Wikipedia (Modruš).

Overlord

The king of Hungary and Croatia for the mainland (Venice for the island)

What it holds

  • Modruš county under the Kapela, with the site of the later castle of Tržan (the fortress may have existed by 1209; the market town is 14th century).
  • Vinodol, the coastal valley from the Rječina at Trsat to Novi, with its old strongholds (Grobnik, Trsat, Bakar, Hreljin, Drivenik, Grižane, Bribir, Ledenice; Novigrad is a 13th-century Frankopan work): presumably as part of Modruš from 1193.
  • Not theirs that winter: Senj (Templars since 1184), Gacka and Lika (Frankopan only in the later middle ages).

How it was acquired

Charter of Béla III, 1193 (disputed); the explicit royal grant of Vinodol is later.

Allies and rivals

Andrew's men as duke; Venice's vassals for the island (compact renewed with Dandolo in 1198, governance of Krk granted again in 1199 on the old terms); neighbours of the Templars at Senj and of the Andechs' Merania and the Duino lords' Rijeka across the Rječina.

How things stand that morning

Probably hold Modruš and Vinodol (low confidence: the title rests on a disputed charter). Having worked with Andrew, they live under Emeric's ban that winter; their island is quiet under Venice.

Wealth

Vinodol's wine and the coastal salt and fish; the road from the Kupa over the Kapela to the coast; the tolls of the mountain passes; timber of the Gorski kotar forests.

Military

Island ships and mainland retinues; strongholds in Vinodol. No numbers recorded.

Threats

  • Caught between Venice and the Hungarian crown in the war for Zara.
  • Royal displeasure for serving Andrew.
  • A challenge to the 1193 title.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

In 1200

  1. Summer 1200Andrew's return as duke restores their patron on the mainland.Depends on: The reconciliation. Stopped by: No peace.

Later, on the likely course

  1. 1202 (later)The Venetian and crusader fleet comes down the coast to Zara (falls 24 November 1202): the counts must choose.Depends on: The crusade treaty with Venice. Stopped by: The crusade not sailing with Venice.

Places of note

  • Modruš (later Tržan castle): Centre of Modruš county (coordinates approximate).
  • Trsat: Vinodol's stronghold over the Rječina, facing Rijeka.
  • Grobnik: Vinodol's inland stronghold on the Grobnik field.

Where the sources disagree

  • The Northern Italy map (Counts of Krk (island)) names Bartol, 'Dujam's youngest son, who dies in 1209', as head of the house. The Hrvatski biografski leksikon gives Dujam's sons as Bartol I and Vid I (attested 1163-1197), calls Bartol II only a younger contemporary, and has Vid II, Henrik and Ivan I making the compact with Dandolo in 1198. The head of the house on 1 January 1200 is not pinned.

Evidence: The mainland title rests on the 1193 charter, whose authenticity is disputed; later charters (1209, 1223) are forgeries per the HBL.

On the map: The bounds of Modruš and Vinodol are drawn from their later extent. The forest of Gorski kotar between them is left to the anchors.

Primary sources for Croatia and Dalmatia

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

Sources and studies

  1. Modruš (Hrvatska enciklopedija)
  2. Vinodol (Hrvatska enciklopedija)
  3. Frankapani (Hrvatska enciklopedija)
  4. Frankapan (Hrvatski biografski leksikon)
  5. Modruš (English Wikipedia)
  6. Senj (English Wikipedia)
  7. Andrew II of Hungary (English Wikipedia; citing Érszegi and Solymosi 1981, Curta 2006, Fine 1994, Zsoldos 2022)
  8. Northern Italy map record fri-krk (the counts of Krk on their island)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.