Pribina

Pribina, also called "Priwina" or "Privina" by Frankish chronicles, was the ruler and Prince of the Principality of Nitra before 833, [cite book
last = Kirschbaum
first = Stanislav J.
authorlink = http://web.as.uky.edu/ssa/biblio/biblio_kirschbaum.htm
title = A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival
publisher = Palgrave Macmillan; St. Martin's Press
date = March 1995
location = New York
pages = 25
url = http://us.macmillan.com/ahistoryofslovakia
isbn = 978-0-312-10403-0] and established and ruled the Balaton Principality from 839/840 to 861. [cite book
last = Bagnell Bury
first = John
title = The Cambridge Medieval History
publisher = Macmillan
date = 1923
location = Cambridge
pages = 211
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=_9IHAAAAIAAJ&q=Balaton+Principality&dq=Balaton+Principality&pgis=1
isbn =]

The main written source describing his life is "Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum" (i.e. "Conversio"), created in Salzburg in the 870s. In addition, several buildings discovered by archaeologists in Slovakia and Hungary are dated to the period of his life. The "Conversio" proves that the building of several churches in the region of Transdanubia was connected to his activities.

Life

The "Conversio" mentions that he built a Christian church in his possession in Nitra. ["Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "Cui quondam" Adalrammus "archiepiscopus ultra Danubium in sua proprietate loco vocato" Nitrava "consecravit ecclesiam." ("For him, Archbishop" Adalrammus "consecrated a church over the Danube in his own possession, in a place called" Nitrava")."] The Principality of Nitra was located approximately in present-day Slovakia and parts of present-day Hungary. Historians are divided about the issue whether Pribina was still a pagan at that time. The church was consecrated by Bishop Adalram of Salzburg in about 828. It was the first known church building of all Western and Eastern Slavs. The church may have served to Christian merchants living in Nitra or to Pribina's Bavarian wife. In addition, the construction of several castles is attributed to his period.

In 833, Pribina was expelled from Nitra by the Moravian ("Maravi") duke Mojmír I. [cite book
last = Kirschbaum
first = Stanislav J.
authorlink = http://web.as.uky.edu/ssa/biblio/biblio_kirschbaum.htm
title = A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival
publisher = Palgrave Macmillan; St. Martin's Press
date = March 1995
location = New York
pages = 84
url = http://us.macmillan.com/ahistoryofslovakia
isbn = 978-0-312-10403-0] The destruction of the castles in Pobedim and Čingov are attributed to his fierce resistance. Modern historians claim that his principality was finally unified to the principality of Mojmír I, forming the core of the latter's Great Moravian Empire. Pribina went to count Ratbod who administered the Eastern March, and the count introduced him to king Louis the German. He was baptised on the order of the king. ["Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "In cuius spacio temporis quidam" Priwina "exulatus a" Moimaro "duce" Maravorum "supra Danubium venit ad" Ratbodum". Qui statim illum præsentavit domno regi nostro" Hludowico", et suo iussu fide instructus baptizatus est in ecclesia sancti Martini loco" Treisma "nuncupato, curte videlicet pertinenti ad sedem Iuvavensem." ("In his days, a certain" Priwina", who had been expelled by" Moimarus", duke of the" Maravi "living over the Danube, came to" Ratbodus". He introduced him to our Lord the King" Hludowicus"; and, on the order of the king, he was educated and baptised in Saint Martin's Church in " Treisma", i.e., in a grange attached to the See of Salzburg.")"]

Pribina left Eastern March after a dispute with count Ratbod. He escaped, with his family and retinue, to the Bulgarian Empire, and then went to Ratimir of Pannonia. However, Ratimir fled when the Frank troops, lead by count Ratbod, invaded his territories. Pribina did not follow Ratimir, but he reconciled with the count. On count Ratbod's initiative, King Louis the German even granted Pribina the parts of Pannonia around the Zala as a benefice. ["Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "Aliqua vero interim occasione percepta, rogantibus prædicti regis fidelibus præstavit rex" Priwinæ "aliquam inferioris Pannoniæ in beneficium partem circa fluvium qui dicitur" Sala" ("In the meantime, when an opportunity offered, the king, on the request of his above-mentioned faithful men, granted the parts of Lower Pannonia around the river called" Sala "to" Priwina "as a benefice")."]

After Pribina's arrival to his new property, he had a fortress built there; shortly afterwards, a settlement called Blatnograd (German Mosapurc or Moosburg, near today's Zalavár) was developing around the fortress. He also had other fortified settlements and churches built. Pribina could strengthen his power by gathering people and expanding his territories. On 12 October 848, King Louis the German granted him all the territories he had owned in benefice as a fief. ["Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "...concessit illi in proprium totum quod prius habuit in beneficium.." ("/The king/ "...granted him the full possession of everything he had held as a benefice...")".] In 861, he supported East Francia in its struggle against Great Moravia and died in a battle against the Great Moravian prince Rastislav. He was succeeded by his son Koceľ.

Notes

ee also

*Principality of Nitra
*Balaton Principality

External links

* [http://www.nitra.sk/en/main.php?id_menu=5733&firmy_slovenska_
]