Sviatopolk ( Svyatopluk , Slovak. Svätopluk , Czech. Svatopluk ; died in 894 ) - from 850-ies to 871 the prince of Nitrian principality , and from 871 to 894 the third prince of Great Moravia . Descended from the dynasty Moymirovich .
Svyatopolk I | |||||||
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Predecessor | Rostislav | ||||||
Successor | Mojmir II | ||||||
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Children | , and | ||||||
Content
Biography
Path to Power
Svyatopolk was the nephew of Prince Rostislav . In the late 850s, he became the head of the Principality of Nitra, which was part of Great Moravia. In the year 867 , after the attacks of the Eastern francs , Rostislav raised him to the level of the suzerain , hoping thereby to improve the defensive abilities of the power. But due to the increased power of Svyatopolk, the Great Moravia was de facto divided into two parts. Both Rostislav and Svyatopolk were forced to repel new invasions in 868 and 869 .
In 870, Svyatopolk refused Rostislav obedience and agreed to a protectorate of the East-Frankish kingdom over the Nitryan principality. In response, Rostislav tried to kill him and restore his power over Nitra. However, Svyatopolk managed to take Rostislav captive and extradite him to the eastern francs, his many years of enemies. By the verdict of the court, Rostislav was blinded and later died in one of the Bavarian monasteries.
In place of Rostislav Franky sent their own candidates, the Counts of Wilhelm II and Engelshalk I, who were to rule the western part of Great Moravia. Svyatopolk, who ruled in the eastern part, himself hoped to take over all power in the state and refused to accept the East-Frank occupation, for which the Franks imprisoned him along with Methodius . However, a year later, in Great Moravia, the people under the leadership of Slawomir raised a rebellion against the imposed power of the Eastern Franks. The army sent by Louis the German to suppress the uprising was defeated. Louis organized a second campaign against the rebels, led by the liberated Svyatopolk, who promised to suppress the uprising. However, when the Frankish army reached Great Moravia, Svyatopolk went over to the side of the rebels and headed them. The second Frankish army was utterly defeated. As a result, Svyatopolk could become a prince of Great Moravia.
In 871 and 872 years Svyatopolk was again forced to defend against the attacks of the Franks. In 874, between the ambassadors of Svyatopolk and Louis the German, the Forchheim Peace was concluded. Svyatopolk pledged to pay tribute to the East-Frankish Kingdom and formally recognized its supremacy. In return, he received a respite in the struggle against his most powerful adversary, the ability to conquer new lands and transform Great Moravia into a powerful state. The expansion of Great Moravia was promoted by its cultural superiority over its neighbors. Already in 874, Svyatopolk seized land in the upper Vistula . Then he occupied the north of modern Moravia around the city of Opava . In 880, Silesia was added to the possessions of Great Moravia and the east of today's Hungary in the middle reaches of the Tisza , then owned by the Bulgarians . From 890, Bohemia (Principality of Przemysloviches ) and Lusatia also became part of the state of Svyatopolk.
In 882, Svyatopolk as an ally of the Eastern Frankish King Charles III invaded the lands of his longtime enemies, Margraves of Wilhelm II and Engelschalk I, and drove them away. They, in turn, made an alliance with Arnulf of Carinthia in Pannonia , who turned the Bulgarians against Svyatopolk. Svyatopolk defeated the Bulgarians and even included Pannonia - part of the territory of Arnulf of Carinthia.
Church Policy
Sviatopolk carried out significant social and military reforms, while maintaining the strong positions of Great Moravia in Central Europe . The church administration created in 880 also belonged to the reforms. A bishopric was established in Nitra , subordinate to Archbishop Methodius . In the same year, Great Moravia became the Pope of Lena, which meant equal status with the Eastern Frankish kingdom. Svyatopolk became the de jure king, although he was sometimes called Rex. A year later, the first monastery in modern Slovakia was founded in Nitra.
At the end of the reign of Svyatopolk, the pope as a result of complex relations and the death of Methodius banned liturgy in the Old Slavonic language ; later, the disciples of Methodius were expelled by papal legates.
Death
Svyatopolk died in 894. On his deathbed, he called on his sons to resist the Eastern Franks and to strengthen the Great Moravian power. After the death of Svyatopolk, the first son of Moimir II became the prince of Great Moravia, while the second son, Svyatopolk , received the principality of Nitra, and the third son, the forerunner , became Bratislava . Subsequently, a conflict broke out between Moimir II and Svyatopolk II, as a result of which the collapse of Great Moravia began.