Samo founded the first recorded political union of
Slavic tribes, known as
Samo's Empire (
realm,
kingdom, or
tribal union), stretching from
Silesia to present-day
Slovenia, ruling from 623 until his death in 658. According to
Fredegarius, the only contemporary source, Samo was a Frankish merchant who unified several Slavic tribes against robber raids and violence by nearby settled
Avars, showing such bravery and command skills in battle that he was elected as the "Slavic king" . In 631, Samo successfully defended his realm against the
Frankish Kingdom in the three-day
Battle of Wogastisburg.