Karantanians
Caranthanians (Latin Quarantani, Slovene Karantanci) were the only Alpine Slavs in the early middle ages and the first ethnic name of an old Slovene people as a separate part of the Slavs (Latin Sclavi qui dicuntur Quarantani, Slavs called Caranthanians). In the Eastern Alps they established the barbaric kingdom of Caranthania (independent from 660 to 745, partly independent to 820), the first stable Slavic state(like union) ever. They are direct ancestors of Slovenes. Caranthanians were also the first Slavic people who accepted Christianity from the West. At the beginning of 9th century they settled also Pannonia inferior or Lower Pannonia, so the name Caranthanians spread there too (Latin Carantanorum regio, 819). Name Caranthanians (Quarantani) lasts to 13th century, but in scriptures at the end of 9th c. we also find name Slovens (Sloveni) and for the land Slovenia. Caranthanians were the name later a bit changed to Slovenci (Slovenes or Slovenians). They spoke Old Slovene (a very archaic form of modern Slovene) we find today only in the very first preserved Slavic scripture written in the Latin script caled Freising Manuscripts, Slovene BriÃÂinski spomeniki, and lived in Slavic "ÃÂupas", parts of early midle ages duchies, and zadrugas, joint families. Mysterious Kosezes (Kasazes, Lat. at first Kosentzez, German Edlinger (noble people), Lombardian Arimanni (members of a special warrior class)) were a subject of much debate. They were probably a private army of the Caranthanian duke.
References
See also