Medieval Foundations for the Development of the Modern Slovenian Nation and National Identity

• Published in: Kronika (Ljubljana) 2024-12, Vol.72 (3), p.409-426
• Main Author: Kotar, Jernej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0023-4923; 2670-6865
• DOI: 10.56420/kronika.72.3.02

Although the Slovenian nation did not exist in the Middle Ages, it was this nearly thousand-year-long period that witnessed the gradual formation of certain foundations for its subsequent development. Among these was, first and foremost, the geographical area of the Slovenian linguistic community which was formed once the state border was settled between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary and once the systematic medieval colonization came to an end. These two processes were also closely linked to the genesis of the Slovenian language, which dates back to the High Middle Ages. However, still older roots pertain to Christianity, the adoption of which brought about profound religious and social changes, coupled with political and cultural affiliation of Slovenian territory to the European West. The article focuses on presenting the above-mentioned three foundations and their part in the formation of the modern Slovenian nation and national identity. Slovenski narod v srednjem veku ni obstajal, so se pa v tem, skoraj tisočletje dolgem obdobju postopno izoblikovala nekatera ključna izhodišča za njegov poznejši nastanek. Mednje v prvi vrsti sodi geografski prostor slovenske jezikovne skupnosti, ki se je oblikoval po ustalitvi državne meje med Svetim rimskim cesarstvom in Ogrskim kraljestvom ter koncu načrtne srednjeveške kolonizacije. S tema procesoma je tesno povezana tudi geneza slovenščine v visokem srednjem veku. Še starejše korenine ima krščanstvo, katerega prevzem je prinesel globoke verske in družbene spremembe ter politično in kulturno navezavo slovenskega prostora na evropski Zahod. Prispevek se osredotoča na predstavitev omenjenih treh izhodišč ter njihove vloge pri oblikovanju modernega slovenskega naroda in narodne identitete.