Person:Paul I Šubić of Bribir (1)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Paul I Šubić of Bribir (; c. 1245 – 1 May 1312) was Ban of Croatia between 1275 and 1312, and Lord of Bosnia from 1299 to 1312. As the oldest son of Stephen II of the Šubić noble family, he inherited the title of count of Bribir. He was appointed ban in 1273. He was relieved from duty in 1274, following his involvement in disputes between the Dalmatian coastal cities of Trogir and Split, and was returned to office in 1275.

With the help of his brothers, Mladen I and George I, Paul imposed direct rule over most of the coastal cities. The contest over the lands of the Kačić family in southern Croatia, who were known for piracy in the Adriatic Sea, brought Paul into conflict with the Republic of Venice. At the same time, the Šubićs became allies with the House of Anjou from Naples. Fighting with Venice continued intermittently until a peace treaty in 1294.

During the succession crisis of the 1290s, Paul emerged as one of the most powerful oligarchs in the realm, and was the main ally of the Angevins in their struggle against the Árpád dynasty. In 1300, Paul invited the Angevin contender to the throne, Charles Robert, to Split and from there accompanied him to Zagreb, where Charles was recognized as king of Hungary and Croatia. Paul did not take part in subsequent activities of Charles in Hungary, where he was not recognized as king for another 10 years. Paul expanded his dominion eastward, over the Banate of Bosnia in 1299, and Hum in 1301, whose territories he distributed among his family members. In 1304, Paul led a campaign into Bosnia after Mladen I, whom Paul appointed Ban of Bosnia, was killed by rebels. The rebellion was quickly quelled, and Paul passed the title of Bosnian ban to his son, Mladen II.

The king's authority over the lands held by Paul was only nominal throughout the entirety of his rule, during which he managed to turn his titles into hereditary ones for his family. His main seats were in Bribir and the city of Skradin. He issued his own coin, minted with silver from Bosnia, and arranged the establishment of three new Catholic dioceses in Croatia. In 1311, Paul assisted a revolt against Venice in Zadar and gained control over the city, which led to another war with the Venetians. Paul died shortly after the capture of Zadar, in May 1312, while peace negotiations with Venice were underway. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Mladen II.

1. ↑ Paul I Šubić of Bribir, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.