The March of Carniola (Kranjska krajina (Slovene); Markgrafschaft Krain (German)) was a southeastern frontier district (march, or margraviate) of the Carolingian Empire, and a state of the Holy Roman Empire, centered in the region of Carniola (in modern Slovenia). The region came under Carolingian influence in 788, being gradually organized as a county, that was originally placed under Friulian jurisdiction (828), but later transferred to East Francia and reorganized into a frontier march. In the middle of the 10th century, it was under the jurisdiction of the Duchy of Bavaria, but in 976 it was placed under the jurisdiction of the newly created Duchy of Carinthia. At the time of its creation, the march served as a frontier defense against the Kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia. The March of Carniola was later transformed into the Duchy of Carniola (1364).
