Velka Morava AJ.Indd
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EURÓPSKA ÚNIA Project has been cofi nanced by ERDF „Investment into your future “ “Investícia do Vašej budúcnosti” NITRA AND GREAT MORAVIA discover the place, live the story Great Moravia under the reign of Rastislav The biggest bloom of Great Moravia under the reign of Svätopluk Sites in contemporary written sources Power centres and Early Medieval castles Churches Great Moravia in its biggest bloom ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF NITRA TOWN – GREAT MORAVIA In 833, Rastislav Prince of Moravia annexed Princedom of Nitra to his realm – Great Moravia was born – the empire which in the 9th century became a signifi cant player in the Central Europe. Under the reign of Rastislav (846 – 870), an appanage prince of Nitra became his nephew Svätopluk (regnum Zuentibaldi – Kingdom of Svätopluk). In 871, Svätopluk got to lead the Moravians. Before long, apart from Pannonia, he succeeded to annex to his realm Bohemia, Krakow territory and part of Upper Tisza Region. Upon his request, Nitra became the Bishop’s seat under Pope John VIII – a monk Viching was ordained – a main defendant the both archbishop Method and Slavic liturgy. Before his death (894), Svätopluk divided the control of the country between his sons. Did Svätopluk II became an appanage prince you know that in Nitra. Internal confl icts, state of main curtain in Andrej Bagar’s Theatre – a precious war with Franks and dangerous tapestry with theme of Great Moravia - is what the theatre is very proud of? It was made in the art workshop in Valašské Meziříčí (Czech Republic). neighbours, Magyars, brought to end the reign of House of Mojmír in Moravia and Nitra at the beginning of the 10th century. Apart from mentioned settlements dating to the Great Moravian period on Nitra territory, non-fortifi ed villages such as the barbican on Martin Hill, Kupecká, Štefánikova, Farská and Párovská Streets (surroundings of a settlement Na Vŕšku), and at terraces of the River Nitra (Šindolka, Chrenová, Mikov dvor, Janíkovce Boroughs and etc.) are known. Along with typical sunken dwellings (the reconstruction may be seen at “the Lubka Settlement” exposition in Nitra-Kynek) and outer buildings, in several villages manufacturing houses, e.g. blacksmith’s shops at Šindolka were found. Specialised craftsmen would also work at hill forts. Pottery kilns on Lupka and a jewellery shop on Castle Hill support this theory. Agricultural and crafts production in the villages provided for needs of a prince court. Apart from the settlements on Nitra territory and its surroundings, the burial grounds, solely skeleton ones, following Christian faith are known. Signifi cant terraced burial sites are on Lupka and in Dolné Krškany. Graves situated next to the dwellings and houses were discovered at Mikov dvor, the barbican on Martin Hill and on Castle Hill. Th e luxury ones were equipped with vessels, jewellery and weapons, and often articles of everyday use, metal tools and tools made of bones and horns. History of Great Moravia and literature development is open to public at Diocesan Museum at Nitra Castle. Nitra – Market Place – earth-house from the 9th century CRADLE OF CHRISTIANITY Expansionism of the Frankish Kingdom under reign of Charlemagne who destroyed Avar domain in Carpathian Basin during the series of military campaigns in 791 – 796 opened the territory for introducing Christianity to Central Danubian territory. In 796, his son Pipin the Short declared partition of Pannonia among Frankish frontier marches and bishops’ seats at the council which was held somewhere at the River Danube bank in Pipin’s military camp. Bishop’s seat of Passau acquired the right to lead Christian missions and carry out ecclesiastical administration of the Eastern March together with both principalities, on Moravia and Nitra territories. Th us it was decided on what religion shall be introduced into the Slavs’ principalities; directed at the West European territories. At the beginning of the 9th century (828), Pribina, Prince of Nitra, had a church built despite a fact he himself was a pagan. Very likely, the church was to serve his wife who came from the Bavarian House and being the Christian, she brought respect for St. Emeram to Nitra. In spite of the rights of Bishop’s seat of Passau, the Pribina’s Church was consecrated by Archbishop Adalram of Salzburg. Th e church built under Pribina’s reign stood on Castle Hill, another two probably on Martin Hill and in the centre of the town, Na Vŕšku. Contemporary illustration of St. Cyril in Saint Clement’s Basilica in Roma (Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano in Rome) CONSTANTINE AND METHOD IN GREAT MORAVIA Th e Great Moravian ruler Rastislav (846 – 870) supported Christianity introduction. Similarly, as his predecessor, the fi rst known Prince of Moravians, Mojmír I, who “had all Moravians baptised” (himself, his family and suite) in 831 by the Bishop of Passau, Reginhard. Both quickly got to understand the power of Christianity and the Church. In 862, Moravians and the sovereign himself in attempt to get rid of religious control and dependency of the East Frankish Realm, sent a letter fi rst to Pope Hadrian II in Roma and then, since he had not met their wishes, Byzantine Emperor Michael III in which the sovereign had asked for missionaries. In the letter he asked for “a bishop and teacher who would explain us true Christian faith in our language” and unify teaching of the previous missionaries. Byzantine emperor sent to Great Moravia two brothers from Th essalonica, Constantine and Method with gifts and the letter; they were greeted with great respect by Rastislav. Immediately they started to teach the students, Constantine translated an ecclesiastic order, prayers and service ceremonies thus making the religion available for majority of people. Th ey had developed Glagolitic script and “started to teach their children handwriting”. Th ey established the Slavic school. Th ey paid particular attention to development of education. Introduction of new Church language led to confl icts among their supporters and opponents who preferred three languages – Hebrew, Greek and Latin – which were used until then. In 867, Constantine and Method left for Transdanubia to visit Pribina’s son Koceľ, and from there travelled to Roma, where, in 868, they were welcomed by Pope Hadrian II who consecrated their Slavonic books. Method together with several followers were ordained as priests. Constantine became ill in Roma, entered the monastery and adopted the name Cyril. It was here where he had died in 869. In the same year, Pope delegated Method as teacher and sent him to Pannonia and Great Moravia; after his return back to Roma, Pope conferred him title of Archbishop of Great Moravia and Princedom of Pannonia. In 870, Bavarian bishops accused Method of intrusion on their rights when he worked in Great Moravia and put him into prison. Immediately upon Svätopluk’s victory over Carloman (871), Moravians expelled Bavarian priests and insisted on Pope to have Method back. In 873, Pope John VIII forced Bavarian priests to release Method from prison. Princedom of Pannonia remained part of Diocese of Salzburg, and Method took charge of archbishop’s seat in Moravia. TOWN OF HILL FORTS AND CHURCHES Nitra takes pride in the highest concentration of Great Moravian hill forts in Slovakia. In addition to defi nitely documented – Castle Hill, Na Vŕšku, the Slavs very likely used hill forts on Lubka and Martin Hill. It is assumed that the settlements on Zobor Hill were built and only little evidence suggests a hill fort at Borina. Hill forts would be enclosed by large wooden ramparts often combined with stone walls and various wooden constructions. Th e hill forts would probably have diff erent function – an organizational- administrative centre or crafts centres but also shelters for periods of unrest. Under Rastislav’s reign, one of such hill fort, most likely on Castle Hill, would be ruled by Svätopluk. NITRA CASTLE Beginnings of continuous settlement on the Castle Hill go back to the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries; semi earth-houses within close vicinity of Vazul’s Tower and scattered graves suggest such settlement. Exceptional rank of a seat of principality in the fi rst half of the 9th century is documented by mortar clumps and decorated blocks of stone as well as debris both under and in a body of a Great Moravian wall which indicate existence of a signifi cant edifi ce (palace, church?) at the top of Castle Hill. In the 9th century, a massive fort with initially palisade walls was built; in the latter half of the 9th century, a rampart with wall of stone from both interior and exterior sides of total width of 5 m would have protected the castle. A building made of small Nitra – Castle – aerial view of a Great Moravian hill fort Casemate – example of the Great Moravian walls Digital reconstruction of the Great Moravian walls limestone blocks dates to the same period. Th eir number suggests that bigger edifi ce (church and a place ?) stood at the top of the hill. Th e little blocks were used again to build a new rampart, a wide cellular wall in the half of the 11th century and then again when rebuilding the church at the turn of the 12th and the 13th centuries. Th ey have also been discovered in the walls of a late-Baroque chapel and the Lower Church. Th e oldest part of the Cathedral of St. Emeram, the Lower Church, was already built in the 11th century. During the large-scale rebuilding, the church was extended towards the east by a section which is today known as the late-Roman Chapel. Interior was also rebuilt. In the 13th century, the church probably had two storeys.