Editing Carantanians (section)

== Traditions and social organization ==
{{See also|Prince's Stone}}

Not much is known about the social and political organization of the Carantanians. Most probably, they were organized in communal entities known as ''župas''. A distinct social stratus known as ''kosezes'' (''Kasazes'' in Latin, in German ''Edlinger'', noble people), which were present also in other parts of the [[Slovene Lands]] until the [[High Middle Ages]], is thought of having derived from the private army of the Carantanian prince. Medieval documents mention that the people freely elected their leader, but it remains unclear what social category the Medieval Latin name ''populus'' exactly referred to.

A plaque in [[Cleveland]] recognizes that this ritual may have influenced the [[American Revolution]]. [[Thomas Jefferson]] had initialed a page in his copy of [[Jean Bodin]]’s “Republic” describing the unique process of Carantanian commoners having the power of choosing their leader, resembling modern democratic values.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slovenians, Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence |url=https://readtheplaque.com/plaque/slovenians-thomas-jefferson-and-the-declaration-of-independence |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Read the Plaque}}</ref>

Several traditions, typical of the Carantanians, survived until the end of the Middle Ages, most notably the [[Carantania#The Ducal Inauguration|installation of the dukes of Carinthia]], which was carried out until 1414.