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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 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 . 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 , 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

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 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 ’ 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 . 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. Th e Upper Church was added and a layout of the Lower Church dramatically changed after the Castle was damaged by Matúš Čák’s army at the beginning of the 14th century. When rebuilding a chancel in the lower nave in the Gothic style, the sedilia were built into the side walls which led into the chapel. Both the Upper and Lower Churches were connected with several passages in walls which were walled up later on. Other construction alterations of sacral complex into present appearance followed in the 15th – 18th centuries. Developments in fortifi cation system Monumental since the Great Moravia period are exhibited six-metre-high at the exposition in the Nitra Castle statue of Prince Pribina casemates – Starting with Great Moravia from 1989 stands at rampart continuing to a Baroque bastion. Pribina’s Square; it was made by Nitra artist Tibor Bártfay.

HILL FORTS AND CHURCHES Martin Hill – pottery dating to the Great Moravian period

MARTIN HILL Dominating position among sites in Great Moravia period had Martin Hill. It is a gentle rising spur at the south-west foot of Zobor Hill. Slavs were the fi rst ones to settle down and occupy this strategic position in the 6th – 7th centuries, and the population reached its peak in the 9th – 12th centuries. In the past, a hypothetic scheme on an original appearance of the site was shaped. It was believed that an area of the site protected by walls from three sides was 20 ha big. Today the full fortifi cation system is not visible, and we know very little on either wall construction alone or inner developments within the fort. So far only its minor section, a church and its vicinity, has been explored where skeleton burial site with the graves dating to 11th up to the 17th centuries were unearthed. Under the Roman Church of St. Martin another edifi ce was discovered. Initially, it was identifi ed with historically well-known Pribina’s Church based on coin discovery in a grave under a top of an altar of the elder church and was classifi ed into his reign (the earlier half of the 9th century). An inscription Carlus Rex indicates that the coin

HILL FORTS AND CHURCHES belonged to one Charles out of three on the Frankish throne in the 9th or at the beginning of the 10th centuries. Systematic research is needed to verify a precise dating of the hill fort. Without any doubt, a church was already built here in the pre-Roman period. Much signifi cant was settlement of the barbican on a left terrace of the River Nitra which occupied almost 60 ha. Craftsmen’s and agricultural edifi ces, earth- houses with stone kilns in the corners, domed clay-made stoves to bake bread and dry corn, store rooms and etc. were discovered. Craftsmen’s village with workshops for horn and bone processing, stonecutting, blacksmith’s shops and jewellers’ crafts, where 10 m wide road of stone would run, was situated in the south-west section. Skeleton graves were also unearthed. To the east, traces of metallurgical production and glass-making were discovered. Majority of fi ndings dating to the 9th – 10th centuries come right from the barbican. Apart from pottery, axe-shaped talents, tools, construction fi ttings, millstones, whorls and loom weights, also bronze earrings and iron buckles and products from bones and horns – needles and awls. After Great Moravia decline, the area was only used for burials, and villages at the barbican gradually perished.

FORT HILL ON „NA VŔŠKU“

During the Great Moravia period, at the site „Na Vŕšku“, a fort hill would tower over the area. Its walls protected the hill of 13 ha situated at site of the present centre of Nitra. It was enclosed by a wide moat, double wood-and-earth mound with a cellular constructions and palisades. Close to the north-west entrance into the fort, foundations of a stone edifi ce (long 24 m, wall width 110 cm) have been unearthed; and along with it also circular objects built of stone and joined by mortar and a section of other stone building. Th e Great Moravian settlement is similarly documented by the graves from the 9th – 10th centuries in the present Piaristická Street which stored knives, beads, a sickle, spurs, and etc. After Great Moravia decline, a smaller village would be here and later on, in the 11th – 14th centuries, a vast one-storey burial site, discovered close to the Church of St. Ladislav standing at the site of the former Church of St. Mary. It is possible that the burial ground unearthed in the nearby Školská Street is connected to it. Th e most frequently, silver and bronze jewellery, head, chest and arm decorations have been discovered in the graves. Most of them were S-shaped earrings, open stick or twisted and strapped rings, glass and stone-made beads, a coin and only occasionally pottery. Th e burial site dates back to the 10th – 12th centuries.

Traces of defensive structures have been similarly discovered at other sites in Old Town. In the houses in present Kupecká Street which date back to the early half of the 10th century and which were very likely standing at the fort barbican, roughly made stone blocks and pieces of mortar were discovered. Th ey indicate presence of stone architecture. To the west of the street, a stone destruction was found, most likely coming from the walls. Similarly, damaged wall has been discovered in Farská Street. Taking all Nitra settlements, the hill fort Na Vŕšku is the most damaged by the later construction activity and information is fragmented, much of them cannot be verifi ed any more. A number of findings prove the settlements at this site also later, in the 11th – 13th centuries.

MYSTERY OF THE PRIBINA’S CHURCH Th e oldest church in Nitra, supported by written documents, was consecrated by Archbishop Adalram of Salzburg around 828. Th is bishop accompanied Bavarian king on a military campaign against who conquered part of Transdanubia the previous year. Th e evidence on the church consecration is given in a document On the Conversion of the Bavarians and Carantanians (to Christianity) written around 871. Th e fact that the church was dedicated to St. Emeram and this patrocinium has not changed to this day supports the idea that the church built by Pribina was set on Castle Hill.

A document “On the Conversion of the Bavarians and Carantanians“ with the fi rst written reference to Nitra Town dating to 828 To the left of the entry gate leading to the Castle THE OLDEST premises, there is a group of statues of Thessalonian BISHOP’S SEAT brothers Sts. Constantine- In 863, Constantine and Method Cyril and Method, scholars and missionaries by the arrived in the Great Moravian sculptress Ľudmila Empire. It is pretty sure they visited Cvengrošová. Nitra too, however, without any doubt they were staying in Moravia to be close to Prince Rastislav. In 869, Method was ordained an archbishop by Pope. Th e letter from Pope Hadrian “Gloria in excelsis” dating from 869 says that Method’s archdiocese should include the Principalities of Rastislav, Svätopluk and Koceľ. Th is again confi rms existence of the Princedom of Nitra within the Great Moravia Empire. One year later, the Bavarians took Method as prisoner. Th e Bavarian bishops held Method prisoner until 873 when due to strict intervention of Pope (John VIII) he returned to Moravia and took charge of his archbishop’s seat under which Nitra territory belonged. Starting that year, Nitra archipresbyter was brought under Archbishop of Moravia. In 880, Pope John VIII established the bishop’s seat in Nitra on Svätopluk’s request in document “Industriae Tue” and consecrated the fi rst Bishop of Nitra, Bishop Viching, originally a Benedictine monk. He was in a subordinate position to Method, however represented diff erent – western orientation. “A priest named Viching who you sent to us we ordained a Bishop of Holy Church of Nitra: we commanded him to obey his Archbishop in all just as holy codes teach”. Establishment of the bishop’s seat must have appeared in the appearance of the House of Lord. It is very probable that right at the site of the oldest church or within its neighbourhood a bigger church was built, even a basilica. Its traces, however, have not been discovered yet.

In 899, when Great Moravian Prince, Mojmír II (894 – 906) was at the top of his powers, the Great Moravian Church acquired a new archbishop and three bishops referring to him. However, after that the sources on bishop’s seat vanished.

THE OLDEST BISHOP’S SEAT Th e bishop’s seat was very likely re-established under King Coloman I (1095 – 1116). Surely, it refl ected the internal political situation in where Nitra maintained signifi cant political, economic and cultural position. During a period of bishopric restoration, archidiaconates were likely to be established within Nitra Diocese – Nitra, Hronský Beňadik and Trenčín.

THE OLDEST CHURCHES IN NITRA

Th e oldest church in Nitra documented in writing was consecrated by Adalram Archbishop of Salzburg in 828 for Prince Pribina. A prove on the church existence on Nitra territory is given in a document On the Conversion of the Bavarians and Carantanians (to Christianity) written around 871. It says neither where it was built nor how it looked like, however, confi rms signifi cance of the very act of its construction and consecration. Initially, a late-Roman chapel standing in the south-east part of the cathedral at Nitra Castle was confused with Pribina’s Church. Research works in 1930s showed that it was built couple of centuries later. Scepticism on presence of pre-Great Moravian architecture and settlements in the 9th century was overcome only when renewed research works in 1980s confi rmed use of older construction segments in the Great Moravian forts and on the walls of Roman edifi ces, so already in the early half of the 9th century a stone edifi ce, church or palace stood there.

Martin Hill

Computer reconstruction of a Roman church Martin Hill – research works in the Early Medieval sacral architecture – Roman and pre-Roman church

Existence of the Pribina’s Church on Castle Hill supports a fact that it was dedicated to St. Emeram and this patrocinium has not been changed to present day. Quantity of stone debris used to build younger buildings (walls from the 11th century) within the Castle indirectly confi rmed existence of another edifi ce dating to the latter half of the 9th century.

Similarly, foundations of a later edifi ce identifi ed as Pribina’s Church have been discovered under a Roman church on Martin Hill. However, it appeared that this connection has not been suffi ciently supported. A coin from a grave discovered under a top of the altar of the later church, which served to estimate the date, has not been defi nitively specifi ed; its date setting varies from the 9th to the beginning of the 10th centuries. Indirect evidence of a stone edifi ce, possibly a church dating from pre–Roman period, come also from a former settlement on Na Vŕšku, Kupecká Street where a little stone block and mortar together with pottery dating to the 9th until the early half of the 10th centuries were discovered within the premises under the graves from the 10th – 12th centuries. It could have been a predecessor of the Church of St. Michael Archangel depicted on a veduta from 1562 in place of today’s Baroque chapel with the same dedication. One-nave church with a semicircular apse dedicated to St. Stephan stands within a market village already known at the beginning of the 12th century (Párovská Street). It was built at the turn of the 11th and the 12th centuries at the latest; dated according to the coin of Vladislav I (1109 – 1125) from a burial site. NITRA – THE POWER CENTRE

Position of Nitra in the early Middle Age is documented not only by the largest concentration of hill forts and churches in the early Middle Age but also highly dense network of settlements. Slavic villages and burial sites would be spread out at area bigger than present town. Findings of the latest archaeological research confi rm this information. Next to previously known settlement sites, the number of settlement objects from the 9th – 10th centuries has signifi cantly increased in the last years – Mostná Street, Svätopluk’s Square, Kupecká Street, Štefánikova Street, Farská Street, Town Market Place, Mlyny, Mlynská Street, Malé Janíkovce, Chrenová, Mikov dvor, Krškany, Selenec, Šindolka, Mlynárce, etc. Th is territory is also interesting for unusually large number of graves at the settlements. Relatively large is also number of burial sites. Original Great Moravian settlements have been unearthed (e.g. Šindolka – ARAVER).

Some of them had been in continuous used since the 9th until 11th century at least (Horné Krškany, Čakajovce). Other burial sites had been established in the latter half of the 10th century being in use until the 11th – 12th centuries. Th ese are the burial sites of so called Belo Brdo Culture

Janíkovce Borough – study of an Early Medieval baking oven Nitra – Šindolka Borough – study of a Great Moravian grave (open air theatre, Dražovce, Mikov dvor, Šindolka – a baypass, Školská Street). Rather large is also a group of burial sites set up in the 11th century – Nitra – castle, Martin Hill, Selenec, Piaristická Street, Párovce, and etc. Old Magyar burial sites with a characteristic equestrian element appear only at a border of Nitra settlement zone (Mlynárce/Lužianky).

Settlement maps of Nitra and its close surroundings, and several burial sites set up in the 9th century and in continuous use until the 10th century defi nitely indicate that at the beginning of the 10th century no fatal disaster affl icted Nitra settlement. Great Moravia decline brings Nitra changes in both material and spiritual culture, however, at the same time stable economic situation is clearly showed.

Wide-spread network of settlements and burial fi ndings document that Nitra in the 9th – 10th centuries (consequently also in the 11th – 12th centuries) has no analogy in a region of Princedom of Nitra. In the central part – starting at present Town Market continuing over Castle Hill and Martin Hill up to Šindolka and Lupka, the settlement system literally of urban character – houses, hill forts, burial sites, sacral buildings, craftsman’s workshops would be spreading out. Within its immediate neighbourhood, the satellite villages probably of agricultural character would lie – Chrenová, Krškany, Párovské Háje, Mikov dvor Boroughs.

Book metal fi tting from the 9th century proves books were used in Great Moravia Continuity in settlement on Nitra territory without any visible settlement regression actually, and just on contrary, documents in permanently compacting settlement structure that economic basis of Great Moravia had not been blown. Th is situation indirectly describes position of Princedom of Nitra after Great Moravia decline. It is possible that Slavic princes made eff ort, probably having in mind bad experiences from the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, to speak the same language with arriving conquerors and thus prevent ravage. Very probably only this phenomenon can explain gradation of settlements, particularly well documented in Nitra.

It is known that at the beginning of the 10th century written sources on Great Moravia, or Princedom of Nitra, started to disappear. On the other hand, it is archaeology which points out the fact that despite of some evidence of destruction from the beginning of the 10th century (e.g. Majcichov, Bojná) many centres survived, and even continued to fl ourish, and several of them generated into important organisational and administrative centres in a new modelled Hungarian Kingdom. Moreover, Nitra becomes a centre of appanage princedom.

ZOBOR MONASTERY

According to historians, beginnings of the Monastery of St. Hyppolite which ruins stand to present day on the west side of Zobor Hill relate to beginnings of Bishop’s seat of Nitra in 880. Another opinion favours establishment of the monastery by St. Stephan at the beginning of the 11th century. Nevertheless, its existence is documented by several written sources. Th e oldest Hungarian legend (dating to the 11th century) on life of Zobor’s Benedictines and hermits, Sts. Svorad and Benedikt by Bishop Maur is part of such sources. According to Czech chronicler Kozmas, the hermits lived on

Zobor Monastery Digital reconstruction of a Medieval house from the 11th century

Nitra – Šindolka Borough – ironwork on a bucket from a Great Moravian grave

Zobor Hill already in times of Great Moravian sovereign Svätopluk. In 1099, the chronicler recorded two events on mysterious disappearance of King Svätopluk, the second one relates to Zobor Monastery, “a site on a hillside of Zobor Hill... where three hermits... had built a church...”. Another two documents referring to the Benedictine Monastery of St. Hyppolite are the Zobor Letters dating to 1111 and 1113. Th ey register the property of the monastery after military raids from Moravia and, at the same time, document existence of the villages in monastery ownership before the 12th century.

In the 11th – 13th centuries, Benedictine Monastery belonged to the signifi cant centres of religious and cultural life in Hungary. It had owned vast premises and lands from Danube to Turiec up to Považie Region. General decline in Benedictine order in Europe in the 15th century had also impact on Zobor Monastery decline. In the 17th century, a new Camaldolese Monastery (hermit order) replaced it. Archaeological researches carried out until now confi rmed stone foundation masonry and medieval edifi ces remaining from the older Benedictine Monastery and a coin from 1200 – 1246 (Friesacher Pfennig) related to it. Its existence in the 11th – 15th centuries suggests medieval pottery. Several parts of the Calmadolese Monastery, particularly monks’ dwellings have been examined in more details. Monks’ cells consisted of four rooms separated by a corridor. One would serve as a chapel, other with a stove would be for living; the remaining ones would be used as a storage room and a cellar. Extraordinary is a set of acquired ceramics and glass vessels from the 18th century. Archaeological research localized sites with preserved remains of the medieval and Baroque monasteries; however, it has not supported its existence in the Great Moravian period so far.

Surviving section of the church of Calmadolese Monastery is open to public, entry from the premises of the Specialised Health Clinic Nitra – Zobor.

FOLLOWING THE GREAT MORAVIA DECLINE

Destiny of after Great Moravia decline in the 10th century has not been reliably clarifi ed until today. Arrival of Old Magyar tribes is documented, however, administrative and organisational competency is not clear. It is likely it was part of political domain of Czech princes. Accordingly, at the beginning of the 11th century there are many question marks in historical and archaeological materials. Several scientists incline and prefer the opinion that Nitra territory in some ways collaborated with Polish or Czech sovereigns.

Nitra – Selenec Borough – study of an ordinary burial site dating to the 11th century Školská street

Old Magyars, actually, were not only one tribe; it was population consisting of seven tribes (Nyék, Megyer, Kurtgyarmat, Tarján, Jeno, Kér and Keszi) each of which had its own chieftain.

Th eir arrival is documented only at the borders of Nitra – Mlynárce and Lužianky Borough; they are missing in the centre of Nitra. It must be pointed out that several burial sites had been continuously functioning since the Great Moravian period in Nitra and its close surroundings, and no settlement had collapsed violently. It allows assume that arrival of Magyars into this territory had not been violent but slow and gradual. It is believed that the Slavic leaders cooperated with Old Magyar chieftains thus limiting military confl icts to minimum. Settlement in this period is documented by large collections of fi ndings from declined settlements and a new burial site discovered in Školská Street. Fifty explored graves document beginnings of burial ceremonies sometime in the latter half of the 10th century and burials had continued until the 12th century. Unfortunately, it was only minor research and therefore it is not clear whether there are any bonds of this burial site with a later church cemetery next to the Church of St. Mary – a predecessor of the present Piarist Church.

Great Moravia decline at the beginning of the 10th century had not automatically recorded complete destruction of the Princedom of Nitra. However, obviously the bishop’s seat has not survived. A request of Géza (971 – 997), Prince of Hungary, in 972 to Oto I, Emperor, for missionaries indicates that this territory had not been consistently Christianised yet. In 1030s, two Zobor hermits Svorad-Andrej and Benedikt were buried in the Cathedral of St. Emeram in Nitra. Th ese two hermits enjoyed considerable support already under Nitra appanage Prince Géza (1063 – 1074). In 1083, Ladislav I, King of Hungary, initiated their canonization.

DECLINE OF GREAT MORAVIA SEAT OF SUCCESSORS TO THE THRONE

It may seem that after Great Moravia decline Nitra had lost its importance. Th e very opposite is true. In the 10th century but also after Hungarian Kingdom foundation in the 11th – 12th centuries it played signifi cant role. In 1048, Nitra had become appanage princedom, one of seat of one third of the kingdom “tertia pars regni”, which princes were serious candidates for Hungarian throne. Nitra Duchy in times of its greatest expansion included 15 commitats and had lasted for almost 120 years. Due to this, Nitra became a place where not only direct but also backstage and primarily treacherous struggles were fought for Hungarian royal sceptre. Well known is a story about Vazul who was due to ascend the throne of Hungarian rulers after Stephan I. Offi cials at Stephan’s court, however, were not satisfi ed with such solution. eyTh arrived in Nitra, blinded Vazul (gouged out his eyes) and walled him in the castle tower. Hence he had not become the sovereign, and his three sons only miraculously escaped to Bohemia.

An extraordinary discovery in Ivanka pri Nitre – so called Cap of Monomach – is closely connected with the 11th century. Seven tall little boards where Emperor Constantine Monomach with his wife, sisters and dancers are depicted were probably one unit. Scenes on the crown may be interpreted as a religious-political image of the Empire, dancers represent triumph over enemy and plants symbolise an Emperor’s garden as a new paradise.

THE OLDEST LITURGICAL TOOL IN SLOVAKIA Its uniqueness lies not only within its content but also in artistic representation of its cover, the frontal decorative board. Th e Codex was written at the end of the 11th century probably in some of west European Benedictine monasteries and after its unsettled destiny and several restorations ended in Nitra where it has remained until today.

HUNGARIAN KINGDOM Cap of Monomach – seven golden boards dating to a half of the 11th century

Diocesan Museum offers complete genesis of how Christianity was brought and developed in Slovakia, together with precious exhibits dating to the Great Moravian period. Nitra Codex (Gospel Book)

Its uniqueness lies not only within its content but also in artistic representation of its cover, the frontal decorative board. Th e Codex was written at the end of the 11th century probably in some of west European Benedictine monasteries and after its unsettled destiny and several restorations ended in Nitra where it has remained until today.

SLAVIC JEWELLER’S CRAFT

When visiting Ponitrianske Museum, a visitor learns detailed information on life of our ancestors. Th e objects discovered at the Slavic settlements, in the graves and a collection of fi ndings tell on the crafts and their products. Perished workshops and production tools, raw materials, semi-fi nished products and waste, all document a production cycle. Craft production at Great Moravia developed so well that many industries had completely separated from agriculture. Close to power centres – hill forts, craftsman’s villages started to grow. Th e most fl ourishing industries were art and crafts producing luxury products only for prince’s court. Next to Slavic craftsmen, producers from abroad took part in production. Skilled craftsmen would produce simple folk jewellery straight in the villages as additional livelihood. Did you know that: the most precious archaeological Discoveries of vanished jewellery fi ndings dating to the Great Moravian period can be seen workshops are known from Nitra in Ponitrianske Museum Castle and Town Marketplace too. situated at a pedestrian Appealing sort of jewellery were zone (Štefánikova colourful necklaces made of glass beads trieda 1)? of diff erent shapes, drawn, blown, twisted, etc. Th ey would be part of metal pendants (amulets, buttons); we known them from burial sites in Nitra on Lupka or Čakajovce. Th e then methods would include bronze casted into stone or clay forms which was used to produce jewellery, earrings and pendants or splendid spurs, buckles, belt arrows and ironworks. Th eir decorations are infl uenced by Carolingian Culture (decorations using art of cutting), very well supported by a fi nding from a grave on Castle Hill next to the Virgin Mary Column – a spur, buckle, belt arrow. In Nitra Region we record unique female jewellery – bronze earrings with casted or hollow pendants discovered on Lupka and in Čakajovce. At that period, splendid golden and silver Veligrad Culture pieces of jewellery started to become common, especially in grave furnishings of more respectable people (Nitra, Čakajovce). Th e graves of common people would be furnished with simple bronze trimmings and jewels made of white metal (alloy of bronze and tin).

Carolingian ironwork from a burial site next to the Plague Column

A gilded button dating to the 9th – 10th centuries

Nitra – Lupka – A necklace from a grave dating to the 9th – 10th centuries Project has been cofi nanced by ERDF „Investment into your future “ “Investícia do Vašej budúcnosti”

EURÓPSKA ÚNIA

NITRA AND GREAT MORAVIA

Editor: City of Nitra, 2012 Text: Jaroslava Ruttkayová, Matej Ruttkay, City of Nitra Graphic Design: Peter Jánsky Photo: archive of Th e Archeological institute SAV Translation: Andrea Spačková Print: Patria I., spol. s r. o. Edition: 3.000 pieces