Prince's Stone

Carinthia possesses a truly unique monument: the Prince’s Stone. A source dating from 1286, written by an abbot, describes a ceremony conducted in the Slavic language. The new duke wore peasant clothing. His princely robe was then given to a free peasant, a rusticus libertus, seated on a stone from the Roman period. This peasant asked the duke what compensation he would receive for giving up his place. And he received a horse, a cow, sixty denarii, exemption from taxation for his house and his farm and, finally, the prince’s clothes. At that point the peasant stood up, gave the duke a symbolic slap and yielded his place to him. The duke climbed onto the stone, raised his sword towards the four cardinal directions and promised the people that, in the presence of at least two thousand soldiers, he would govern with justice and defend the Christian faith. In the nineteenth century, because of its historical importance, the stone was transferred to Klagenfurt, to the Landhaus. A Baroque painter depicted the scene in the Hall of Coats of Arms. Later, however, balls and celebrations were also held in the hall and a platform for musicians was built above the stone. It was considered unworthy of the monument, and the stone was transferred to the regional museum. Around 2000, it returned to its place in the Landhaus.