Boruth

Boruth, also Borut (from , "fighter") or Borouth, (died about 750) was the first documented Slavic prince (Knyaz) of Carantania, ruling from about 740 until his death. He was one of the few pagan leaders of the Carantanians to convert to Christianity.

==Rule== thumb|270px|Carantania at the time of Charlemagne Boruth probably asserted himself as a Carantanian chieftain in the early 8th century. He ruled over large estates in the Eastern Alps, comprising parts of the present-day Austrian states of Carinthia and Styria, as well as adjacent lands in today's Slovenia. Under continuous pressure by Avar raids, he appealed to his mighty neighbour in the northwest, the Agilolfing duke Odilo of Bavaria (d. 748) for help. Military aid was granted, but in turn Boruth had to accept Bavarian overlordship and Christian faith. Duke Odilo himself was a vassal of the Frankish kings and both Bavaria and Carantania were incorporated into the Carolingian kingdom of the Franks soon after, accomplished with the deposition of Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria by Charlemagne in 788.