Karantanien#

Carantania (probably Celtic), dominion of the Alpine Slavs in: Carinthia, Styria, East Tirol, Lungau, southeastern Lower Austria, southern Lower Austria and Slovenia (Krajina). The territory of Carantania was formed by Slav invasion in the 7th century; the Alpine Slavs were called Carantanians. At first Carantania was under the political influence of the Franks under the leadership of the Frankish merchant Samo, in the 8th century it was attached to Bavaria and in 976 it became a duchy in its own right; the neighbouring provinces (marches) were organised in the interest of border defence.