Tassilo’s Grant to Innichen Abbey

The last (since he crossed the Franks) Bavarian ruler of the Agilolfing dynasty was Tassilo III (circa 741 – circa 796).  He is also important for the history of the Slavs as he established a number of monasteries that mention the Slavs and that were set up for their instruction in the Christian faith and to spread Bavarian influence, of course.  One of these documents appears in the Monumenta Boica, specifically, the Monumenta Schledorfensia, although really comes from the Cozroh-Codex (BayHStA HL Freising 3a).  It is a document issued by Tassilo in Bolzano (Bauzanum or Bauzana) which, at the time was part of Bavaria (now main city in South Tyrol) and establishes a monastery at Innichen in South Tyrol.  Note that during the gradual decline of the Romans’ influence in the 7th century, Bavarian immigration took place into northern Italy and the first mention of a Bavarian ruler in Bolzano dates from 679. The document discussed here comes from about a century later, from the year 769.

There are several interesting things here:

• Innichen’s name was India – does it have to do with the Wends? Windische?  Most likely
• the abbot Atto comes from Scharnitz which is itself clearly a Slavic name
• Kislot, one of the signatories, reminds me of Niklot

In Bolzano
A.D. 769
(MB 9, page 9, number 2)

“In the name of God.  I Tassilo Duke of the Bavarians asks for divine mercy and eternal happiness, a steady hand, with the consent of the noblemen of the Bavarians, I bestow and establish the place known as India [Innchin[g]/Innichen], that the commoners call the Gelau field [ice field – compare gelato], to the abbot Atto of [Scharnitz] the church of Saint Peter, the prince of the Apostles, or other saints and martyrs for the benefit of my soul and those of my ancestors, for the establishment of the monastery and its servants, from the river called Tesido to the ends of [the habitations of] the Slavs, that is to the brook of Mount Anarasium, whole and entire, the flatlands, and the mountains, pastures, hunting grounds, swamps, all the shrubs, pertaining to the same place; and no one should in the future bother the natives nor any of those places or lodge complaints about the East [?]. neither during the time of the aforesaid Abbot Atto nor during the time of his successors, for with my own hand and ability, I lay down the letters of [this] document before my judges and nobles, for these places that have been, as we know, empty and uninhabitable since ancient times.  But now, I hear [your] asking and humbly beseeching, and [therefore] bestow for the education of the unbelieving Slavs in order to lead them onto the path of truth and with a happy countenance to deliver this advice; and I order that no one from my heirs or coheirs or any other people should oppose or go against this deed of grant or infringe this will of mine and anyone who would so will incur the wrath of God and of all the Saints. I sign with my proper hand, donating and confirming.”

“Done at Bauzano, in the 22nd year of his reign. Alizzeo.  Reginwolf.  Signed by the hands of Gunther. Drudmunt.  Pillunc.  Oatochar.  Hliodro.  Crimperht.  Papo.  Hariperaht.  Kislot.  Iubeano.  With all the bishops as witnesses. I wrote and signed.”

“In Dei nomine. Ego Tassilo Dux Baiovarorum vir iniuster conpunctus de divina misericordia atque de eterna beatitudine, manu valente, cum consensu optimatum Baiovarorum dono atque transfundo locum nuncupantem India, quod vulgus campo Gelau vocantur, Attoni Abbati ad Ecclesiam sancti Petri Apostolorum Principis, seu certorum sanctorum Apostolorum atque Martyrum, pro remedium anime mee, seu & antecessorum meorum, in edificatione monasterii atque ipsius servitio, a rivo, que vocatur tesido, usque ad terminos Sclavorum, id est ad rivolum montis Anarasi, totum atque integrum, campestria, seu & montana, pascuas, venationes, umecta, seu & frutecta omnia ad eadem pertinentia locum, ut nullus deinceps genitorum hominum queat, nec usurpando presumat quis quolibet ingenio aut querimonia oriente, ullo modo inquietare locum, atque inhabitantes in eo, in exordio rationis predicto Abbati Attoni nec posteros eius, quia manu propria, ut potui, caracteres Cyrografu inchoando depinxi eoram iudicibus atque optimatibus meis, quia et ipsa loca ab antiquo tempore inanem atque inhabitabilem esse cognovimus.  Nunc vero postulantem atque humiliter supplicantem audivi et propter incredulam generationem Sclavorum,ad tramitem veritatis deducendam concessi, et hilari vultu tradedi per presentes apices, ut nullus, quod fieri minime arbitror, ex heredibus aut coheredibus meis, sive quolibet opposita persona, qui contra hanc epistolam donationis ire aut infrangere vult, iram Dei incurrat & omnium sanctorum. Signum manus mee propria Tassilonis donante atque confirmante.”  

“Actum in Bauzano, rediente de Italia, anno ducatui eius XXII.  Alizzeo.  Reginwolf.  Signum manus Gundheri.  Drudmunt.  Pillunc.  Oatochar.  Hliodro.  Crimperht.  Papo.  Hariperaht.  Kislot.  Iubeano.  Alim Episcopus testis.  Ego anno indignus iussus scripsi & subscripsi.”