The Narentines, the Slavic Seafarers That Terrorized the Adriatic Sea

Most often, we know the Ancient Slavs as peaceful tribes of the steppes and woodlands, who excelled at animal husbandry and agriculture. But did you know that they were also skilled seafarers? Navigating the rivers and seas of Europe, they became so proficient at seafaring that they influenced the powerful Vikings. And one of the most important of these Slavic tribes were the Narentines.

Nestled along the rugged Dalmatian coast, the Narentines, also known as Neretvians, emerged as a powerful and feared maritime people. They were infamous for their piracy in the Adriatic Sea during the early medieval period, especially from the 7th to the 11th centuries AD. In fact, they were so powerful that even the mighty Venetian Republic bowed before them. Who were they? And how did they grow so powerful?

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Ferocious Narentines, the Southernmost Serbian Tribe

The Narentines are believed to have been a group of early Serbs that settled in the region of modern-day Croatia, specifically around the Neretva River, from which they derived their name. At the onset they were part of the larger Slavic migrations that swept across Europe in the early Middle Ages.

The Serbs were one of the major tribes that dwelt in Europe, and they gradually spread into the Balkans as well. Those that penetrated far to the south and remained on the coasts of the Adriatic Sea were eventually given the tribal designation of the Narentines.

By the 7th century AD, these Narentines had established themselves as a distinct group, occupying the coastal and riverine areas around the Neretva. Their strategic location along the Adriatic coast allowed them to control important maritime routes, which they would later exploit through piracy.

The Narentines initially lived in small, semi-nomadic communities, relying on fishing, hunting, and agriculture. However, their proximity to the sea and the wealth of opportunities it presented soon led them to develop a strong seafaring culture, recalling the shipbuilding skills of their ancestors and so, by the 9th century AD, the Narentines had transformed into a formidable maritime power, known for their swift and agile rowing ships, which they used to launch raids on coastal settlements and passing merchant vessels.

The 9th and 10th centuries marked the zenith of Narentine piracy. They were feared throughout the Adriatic for their audacious raids, which targeted both coastal towns and merchant ships. They were particularly notorious for their attacks on Venetian and Byzantine trading vessels, which brought them into direct conflict with two of the most powerful states in the region.

The Narentines' ships, known as " sagittae," were small, fast, and highly maneuverable, making them ideal for hit-and-run attacks. Like the Viking “ drakkars,” these vessels allowed the Narentines to strike quickly and retreat to the safety of their coastal strongholds, which were often located in difficult-to-reach areas along the rugged Dalmatian coast. Their knowledge of the local waters gave them a significant advantage over their enemies, who often struggled to navigate the treacherous Adriatic seas.

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Pagania (the principality of the Narentines) in the 9th century. (rowanwindwhistler/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Pirates of the Adriatic

The Narentines' piracy was not just an act of opportunistic plunder; it was a way of life deeply ingrained in their society. The wealth they accumulated from their raids allowed them to maintain a high degree of independence and resist the influence of larger powers. Unlike other Slavic tribes in the region, the Narentines were not easily subdued by the Byzantines or the Franks. Instead, they maintained a degree of autonomy, often playing these powers against each other to secure their own interests. What is more, they remained defiantly Pagan, in a time when most - if not all - of their neighbors were staunch Christians. Even when all the other Serbs adopted Christianity, the Narentines stood by the Slavic pagan gods. That is why their lands were called also - Pagania.

The Narentines' piracy inevitably led to conflicts with the major powers of the Adriatic: the Venetians and the Byzantines. Venice, a burgeoning maritime republic, saw the Narentines as a direct threat to its commercial interests. The Venetians' trade routes to the Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Mediterranean were constantly under threat from Narentine raids, which disrupted commerce and endangered Venetian lives.

The first major conflict between the Narentines and Venice occurred in the early 9th century. In 839 AD, the Venetians, under Doge Pietro Tradonico, launched a punitive expedition against these Slavs. The Venetians managed to achieve some initial successes, but they were unable to fully subdue the Narentines, who continued their piracy with renewed vigor.

Doge Pietro Tradonico (Public Domain)

The Byzantines, who had long considered the Adriatic as part of their sphere of influence, also found themselves at odds with the Narentines. The Byzantine Empire, under the Macedonian dynasty, sought to reassert control over the Dalmatian coast and bring the Narentines into their fold. However, the Narentines proved to be a formidable opponent, leveraging their naval prowess and knowledge of the terrain to resist Byzantine attempts at domination.

The conflict with the Byzantines reached a peak in the late 9th century when Emperor Basil I the Macedonian launched a campaign to subdue the Narentines. The Byzantines managed to capture several Narentine strongholds, but their victory was short-lived. The Narentines soon regained their independence and resumed their piracy, much to the frustration of the Byzantine authorities.

The Last True Pagans of Europe?

Narentine society was shaped by their maritime environment and their reliance on piracy. Unlike other Slavic tribes in the region, who were primarily agrarian, the Narentines were a seafaring people. Their villages were typically located along the coast or on islands, where they could easily access the sea. Most of the hinterland communities where they lived, and those situated on the islands, raised herds of cattle and sheep, as a means of sustenance. Those situated on the coastlines, however, were focused on the sea. This created a balanced nation that spread on both sea and land - and prospered from both.

Western Balkan polities in the late 9th century. (Hxseek /CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Narentines had a decentralized social structure, with power being held by local chieftains or župans. These leaders were often chosen based on their ability to lead raids and protect their communities from external threats. The Narentines did not have a centralized state, and their society was organized around kinship ties and alliances between different clans.

Of course, religion also played a significant role in Narentine society. Like other Slavic peoples, the Narentines for long practiced a form of paganism, worshiping a pantheon of gods associated with nature and the sea. However, by the late 9th century AD, Christianity had begun to spread among the Narentines, due to the efforts of Byzantine missionaries and their already-Christianized neighbors. Despite this, the Narentines retained many of their pagan customs and beliefs, which coexisted with their Christian faith. Today, their pagan heritage can be seen in the surviving place names in their original homeland.

Ultimately, the Narentines' way of life was closely tied to the sea, and their piracy was not just a means of survival but also a source of pride and identity. The wealth they accumulated from their raids allowed them to build strong communities and maintain their independence in a region dominated by powerful empires.

Alone Against Mighty Enemies

The decline of the Narentines began in the late 10th century as the balance of power in the Adriatic shifted. The rise of the Croatian Kingdom under King Tomislav posed a significant threat to the Serb Narentines. Another threat came from medieval Serbian lands, with whom the Narentines shared a common kinship. According to medieval sources, the powerful Serbian ruler of the time, Petar Gojniković, had already incorporated “Pagania” into his vast realm. This ruler sought to bring many of his lesser neighbors under his control, and the Narentines were no exception.

The Venetian Republic, which had long suffered from Narentine piracy, also took advantage of the Narentines' weakened state. In 998 AD, the Venetians, under Doge Pietro II Orseolo, launched a major offensive against the Narentines. The Venetians managed to capture several key Narentine strongholds, including the island of Korčula, which had been a major base for Narentine piracy. The conflict culminated with the destruction of the last pirate haven in the Adriatic - the island of Lastovo. This campaign marked the beginning of the for the Narentines as a significant maritime power.

Pietro II Orseolo (Public Domain)

And so it happened that by the early 11th century, the Narentines had been largely subdued by their neighbors. The rise of the Croatian Kingdom, Serbia, and the growing power of Venice left the Narentines with little room to maneuver. The once-feared pirates of the Adriatic were gradually absorbed into the larger political entities that surrounded them, and their distinctive way of life began to fade.

A Memory of Blood Shed on the Waves

Despite their decline, the Narentines left a legacy in the Adriatic region. Their maritime prowess and resistance to external domination made them a symbol of independence and defiance. The Narentines' raids had a significant impact on the development of Venetian and Byzantine naval strategies, forcing these powers to invest in stronger defenses and more powerful fleets.

The Narentines also played a role in the cultural and demographic shaping of the Dalmatian coast. Their interactions with neighboring peoples, including the Venetians, Byzantines, and Croats, contributed to the region's diverse cultural landscape. The Narentines' descendants continued to inhabit the Dalmatian coast, where they eventually assimilated into the broader Slavic population.

In modern times, the history of the Narentines has been romanticized and celebrated as part of the cultural heritage of the Dalmatian region. Their legacy is remembered in local folklore, place names, and historical narratives that highlight their role as fierce defenders of their independence against powerful empires.

Vikings of the Adriatic

The history of the Narentines is a testament to the enduring spirit of a people who carved out a unique identity in the face of overwhelming odds. From their origins as a small Slavic tribe to their rise as the terror of the Adriatic, the Narentines left a major mark on the history of the region. Their story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of autonomy. While they eventually succumbed to the forces of history, the Narentines' legacy lives on as a reminder of the complex and dynamic history of the Adriatic Sea. Their tale is a valuable chapter in the broader narrative of medieval European history, offering insights into the interplay between small communities and powerful empires in a time of great change.

Top image: Dolazak Hrvata (Arrival of Croats), painting by Oton Iveković, representing the migration of Croats to the Adriatic Sea.  Source: Public Domain

By Aleksa Vučković