Czech History Page

There are some paragraphs about Czech history, as seen by common czech student.

First settlemets dates back to Stone Age, to late Paleolit to be exact - around 1.6-1.7 millions years ago. Remeinders of that first settlement were found in areas surronding Czech capital, Prague, especialy around Beroun, and later in south Moravia (early Paleolit). From such remains we could conclude, that Czech lans were relatively dense inhabitet, with respect to time.

Then came Bronze Age and Iron Age - significant remains of both Ages can be found on Czech Republic lands. Mainly Iron Age is important, because from that time we can name the first tribe - "Boje". According to name of that Celtic tribe the area was given name "Bohemia" (2nd century BC). Development of Celts culture was stoped by invasion of Germans tribes Markomans and Quads. We haven't many news about Bohemie till Slavs tribes came to area.

Slavs - tribe which derives its origin in large preries of East Europe and North-West Asia (now areas of Post-USSR republics). First settlement of Slavonic tribes in Czech lands dates back to 6th century AD. Majority of inhibitants of the Czech Republic derives its origin from Slavs tribes. Czech are just one kind of Slavonic tribe, they belongs to Western Slavs. Other Wester Slavonic tribes are Poles and Slovaks. Eastern Slavonic tribes consist of Russians and Ukraines. South Slavonic tribes are Serbs, Chorvats and Bulgars. Elbe Slavs used to live around Elbe river while Balts Slavs on coast of Baltic Sea - that tribes were later destroyed by Germanic tribes.

Slavs were at first farmers. They grown corn and legume. Meanwhile they were still hunters. They hunted animals, fishs, and were famous by apiculturers (honye-bees keeping). Slavs together with other tribes were driven to Europe areas by massive femine in East Asia - that process is refer to as Big Travelling of Nations. Firstly just one big family lived in small unprotected village. Then they started to forming bigger colony, because they offer them better protection. Later they started to build-up fortified "Hradiste" - little castles. Such places soonly became centres of production - they offer wider market, so some people can even speciliased in one particular area. However, Slavs were not good traders and they didn't use money. Soonly it became clear that some sort of "goverment" of such village is needed - so villages elected their chiefs.

The first state body in Czech land was established in 7th century AD. That was so called Samo's Realm. Not much is know about it - we know, that Samo was trader, that such realm was established mainly for protection against Avars and Francs, Czech lands probably formed core of it. That realm lasted for 3 decades. Only one date we are sure from that times is year 631 AD, when Battle of Vogotisburg between Samo's Realm and king Dagobert was conducted. However, what is interesting - we don't know where Vogotisbugr was and what was result of Battle.

In 8th century AD none state body is know in Czech lands. The situation changed in 9th century, when Moravia Realm was established. It derives it's origin from merging of Moravian and Nitrian (north-west Slovakia) principalities under patronage of Mojmir, prince of Moravia. In 863 AD prince Rastislav asked Bisantian Realm for techers of the New Religion - Christianity. Cyril and Metodej, two members of North-Greek Slavonic tribe, Macedonians, came. They developed new alphabet - Cyrillica, which derived its origin from Greek alphabet. From that alphabet Cyrillic script (~=Russian alphabet) has been developed. They started translation of Bible into "Staroslovenistina" - one of Slavonic language. However, Czechs choose later Latin (Common) alphabet as primary alphabet for Czech language.

At times of prince Svatopluk, Moravian Realm reached its highest peek. After his death, realm has been weaken by internal problems and between 904-907 the realm was defeated by Hungarian invaders. The Moravia Realm has high cultural level compared to the rest of Europe.

Next chapter of Czech history primarly consists of the history of indendent Czech state. Czech lands offers better natural conditions. In 10th century AD, huge number of tribes occopied Czech lands (all were Slavs) - Litomericans, Decinans, Chebs and of course Czechs, which were strongest of all and were settled in the middle of Czech lands. First markets villages and castles were build - Brno, Olomouc, Prague. Differentiation of citizens between feudals and dependant (slaves) began. Trade had been slowly developing.

In developing Czech state, Premyslid dynasty showed to be the strongest of all and slowly seized powers. So let me discus its history: Members of Premyslid dynasty had influence over areas in center,west and north of the Czech lands. All of them were Christians. First know prince is prince Borivoj. He was christen in 845 AD in Rezno.

Next was prince Vaclav - ruled 907-935 AD. Since he has almost no forced forces, he agree with German prince Jindrich I. the Bird-fencier in his claim to Czech land. Jindrich claim in tax in kind and tax in money, Vaclav agree with them, but he didn't pay that taxes. Vaclav still has control over Czech lands. Later he was murded by its brother Boleslav I (ruled 935-967), and so started long line of rulers wearning name Vaclav being murdered (out of 4, 2 were muredered). Vaclav later became saint and patron of Czech lands.

Boleslav I. was "right man on right place at right time". Under its reign, economy developed, first coins (denars) were issued. He connected to Czech state area till Krakov (nowadays Poland). He was forced to withdraw in conflict with German prince Oto I.

Boleslav II. (967-999) , highly religios man, continue with polici of its predictor, enlargered Czech state till borders of Kyjevian Russia. He support Church - in 973 AD he set up bishoperic in Prague, first monasteries were founded. In 995, members of Dynasty of Slavnikovci, coming from Slavs tribes and ruled over South and East Bohemia and thus creating significant danger do Premyslid dynasty, were murdered. Only one member, saint Vojtech, archbishop, survive. He was later murdered near Baltic sea, where he evangelize pagans. Premyslid dynasty strength its position.

After death of Boleslav II, Czech lands remains without ruler, because Boleslav II three sons cannot deal, who should rule. Anybody does whatever he find usefull, regardless to quick changing rules.

Bretislav I (1034-1055 AD), grandson of Boleslav II, was powerfull ruler. He again seize Krakov.

Vratislav II (1061-1092 AD) participated on fights between pope and emperor over who has the right to name priest. He gets life kings title in 1085 AD.

12th century started with internal struggles of power. Sobeslav I (1125-1140) sucessfully reduced Peers rights. He was succesfull in fight with Emperor Lotaz.

Next part will be written when I will find free time to write it.

Last update III.XVIII.MCMXCVI (18th March 1996) AD