House of Madi
Encyclopedia
House of Madi was a patrician family from Zadar
. They were influential in Croatia
n politics from 10th till 12th century.
, from the late tenth until the end of the eleventh century. They can be regarded as an example of, but also in a certain way as an exception to, families of the Dalmatian urban elite in the tenth and the eleventh centuries. Their family structure (especially the importance of female members in the second half of the eleventh century) reveals that they did not have a firmly-structured noble lineage such as those of the families who were to hold power in the Dalmatian towns in later centuries. Such a flexible family structure perhaps could be regarded as especially useful in those times when the positions of power were not strictly inheritable – the urban elite was not a totally closed group in which the position of an individual was automatically guaranteed at his/her birth. Like other families, the Madii leaned on the support of the extended family circle in ensuring the preservation of their leading position in the community. Through the successful cooperation of family members, they managed to obtain the highest secular and spiritual posts in Zadar in the first half of the eleventh century. In securing their position they relied on good relations with ecclesiastical institutions as well as on economic wealth. They also managed to make successful affinal connections with the Croatian royal family
in the hinterland. It seems, too, that they were the only Dalmatian family at this time who had the ambition to expand the authority of Zadar’s priors outside the local context, first over the territory of central Dalmatia (the towns of Trogir and Split), and then even perhaps over the whole territory of the theme of Dalmatia. However, these plans were thwarted by historical circumstances, which were leading to the gradual disintegration of Dalmatia. The Byzantine Empire
, which could not stop the slow declination of its own power in Dalmatia, had just enough strength to prevent the appearance of a semi-dependent local dynasty, similar to those in contemporary Italy
. The attempt of the Madii thus failed. Although after a few decades they recovered, they did not manage to impose their authority in such a manner as they could in the first half of the eleventh century. In the second half of the century other families of Zadar ensured that their monopolisation of power would not be repeated again.
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
. They were influential in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n politics from 10th till 12th century.
History
The Madii were the leading family of Zadar, the capital of the Byzantine theme of DalmatiaDalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, from the late tenth until the end of the eleventh century. They can be regarded as an example of, but also in a certain way as an exception to, families of the Dalmatian urban elite in the tenth and the eleventh centuries. Their family structure (especially the importance of female members in the second half of the eleventh century) reveals that they did not have a firmly-structured noble lineage such as those of the families who were to hold power in the Dalmatian towns in later centuries. Such a flexible family structure perhaps could be regarded as especially useful in those times when the positions of power were not strictly inheritable – the urban elite was not a totally closed group in which the position of an individual was automatically guaranteed at his/her birth. Like other families, the Madii leaned on the support of the extended family circle in ensuring the preservation of their leading position in the community. Through the successful cooperation of family members, they managed to obtain the highest secular and spiritual posts in Zadar in the first half of the eleventh century. In securing their position they relied on good relations with ecclesiastical institutions as well as on economic wealth. They also managed to make successful affinal connections with the Croatian royal family
Croatian nobility
Croatian nobility refers to the noble families of Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia, Istria, Bosnia and Republic of Ragusa.-General history of Croatian nobility:Croatian nobility titles mostly were granted by the kings of Croatia, later kings of Hungary-Croatia...
in the hinterland. It seems, too, that they were the only Dalmatian family at this time who had the ambition to expand the authority of Zadar’s priors outside the local context, first over the territory of central Dalmatia (the towns of Trogir and Split), and then even perhaps over the whole territory of the theme of Dalmatia. However, these plans were thwarted by historical circumstances, which were leading to the gradual disintegration of Dalmatia. The Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, which could not stop the slow declination of its own power in Dalmatia, had just enough strength to prevent the appearance of a semi-dependent local dynasty, similar to those in contemporary Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The attempt of the Madii thus failed. Although after a few decades they recovered, they did not manage to impose their authority in such a manner as they could in the first half of the eleventh century. In the second half of the century other families of Zadar ensured that their monopolisation of power would not be repeated again.
Notable members
- Andrija - priorPriorPrior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of Zadar, founder of the St. Krševan Monastery. Died in 918. - Helen I of Croatia - Croatian queen, wife of king Michael Krešimir II of Croatia, died in 976.
- Grgur/Dobronja, prior of Zadar, died in 1035. Tried to make Dalmatian cities independent from Byzantine EmpireByzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. - Čika and her daughter Domnana, the founders the Benedictine monastery of St. Maria in Zadar in 1066 which received privileges from CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n king Peter Krešimir IV. - VekenegaVekenegaVekenega was a Croatian Benedictine nun from the House of Madi. She was the daughter of Čika and a Director of Benedictine monastery of St. Maria in Zadar.-External links:**...
, the daughter of Čika, became a nun in 1072 and later the director of the convent.