Domald of Sidraga


Domald of Sidraga was an influential Dalmatian nobleman. He held Cetina, Klis, Šibenik, Split and other towns in the early 13th century. He came into conflict with the powerful Šubići. With royal support, the latter seized Domald's domains in 1223.

Life

Born around 1160, Domald was the son of a župan, or Count, of Klis in Dalmatia. According to historian John V. A. Fine, he most probably was a member of the noble Kačić family. Domald held Šibenik and Klis and possessed lands in the region between the Krka River, the Adriatic Sea and Zadar.
The townspeople of Split elected him their Prince in 1209. Having captured Zadar from the Republic of Venice in the same year, the grateful citizens also elected him its Count. His rule in Zadar proved to be short-lived, because the town accepted the suzerainty of the Republic without resistance after the Venetian navy approached its port in 1210. In the same year, King Andrew II of Hungary, who ruled Dalmatia, bestowed upon Domald the župa, or county, of Cetina.
He was expelled from Split by the citizens in 1221. The citizens of Split elected a member of the Šubić family, Visan of Zvonigrad their new Prince, causing a feud between Domald and the Šubići. King Andrew's son, Duke Béla, who administered Dalmatia at that time, intervened in the conflict on behalf of Domald's opponents in 1223. The Duke laid siege and seized the Fortress of Klis. Domald was forced to renounce his domains which were distributed among his opponents. Domald died in 1243.