(1) Slavic Kingdoms: Political History and Notable Figures

Slavic Bohemia (All Facts)

• Earliest Slavic state, it was a predecessor state to Moravia

623 - 658 - Samo (All Facts)

• King of Bohemia

  • Made it independent of the Avars and the Franks for the Slavs

  • He was a Frankish merchant

(Great) Moravia (All Facts)

• First major state that was predominantly comprised of West Slavs to emerge in the area of Central Europe

• Included the territory of modern-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine and Slovenia

• It was an important political and military federation which at the time had comprised the namesake tribe and other Slavic tribes including the Bohemians, Slovakians, and Pannonians

820s - 846 - Mojmir (All Facts)

• First Ruler and Founder of Moravia

• He united (for the first time) the then-Slavic tribes of Moravia, Bohemia, Pannonia, and Slovakia into the political and military federation that was Moravia

• He was also the first Slavic ruler to become a Christian convert due to Frankish missionary efforts

  • However, he turned against the Franks when he defeated his Frankish-backed neighbor and rival Prince Pribina

826 - 869 - St. Cyril (All Facts)

• Along with his brother St. Methodius, he

  • Invented the “Glagolitic Alphabet,” first used in Moravia and which evolved into the more well-known “Cyrillic Alphabet”

  • Was chosen by Emperor Michael III of the Byzantine Empire to evangelize to the Slavs at the request of Rastislav of Moravia

  • Spoke Slav

• He was born in Thessalonica

  • His name was Constantine until he became a monk

846 - 870 - Rastislav (All Facts)

• 2nd Ruler of Moravia

  • He was initially backed by and served as a vassal under Louis the German of Germany / East Francia, but later repelled Louis the German’s attacks into the areas over which Louis sought influence

• Under his reign, the Slavic peoples of Moravia were converted to Christianity via St. Cyril and St. Methodius, both of whom were chosen to do so by Emperor Michael III of the Byzantine Empire at the request of the namesake

  • This provided the foundations of the earliest Moravian (Slavic) literature, in which the Bible was translated into the script of the Cyrillic Alphabet invented by St. Cyril

  • The namesake had requested this from Michael III as a means of counteracting Frankish influence in and over Moravia

815 - 885 - St. Methodius (All Facts)

• Along with his brother St. Cyril, he

  • Invented the “Glagolitic Alphabet,” first used in Moravia and which evolved into the more well-known “Cyrillic Alphabet”

  • Was chosen by Emperor Michael III of the Byzantine Empire to evangelize to the Slavs at the request of Rastislav of Moravia

  • Spoke Slav