Abstract: This brief overview clearly shows that the image and position of Svatopluk in Slovak historiography is not at all ordinary or one-dimensional. Therefore, there is no point in trying to simplify and reduce it to the mere “ľudácky” or “nationalistic” concept from WWII Slovakia, or to one equestrian statue at Bratislava castle. This article aims to outline the rather obvious direct proportion between the national-emancipatory and state ambitions of Slovaks and the number of historical re-examinations and updates of Svatopluk’s interpretation. But more than that, it aims to highlight the universalistic character of Svatopluk. It definitely does not intend to question the internal coherence of the tradition of Slovaks as “the people of Svatopluk” Cosma of Prague writes metaphorically about in the first part of The Nitra Legend of Svatopluk known as Sicut vulgo dicitur, i.e. “As it is commonly said” at the beginning of the 12th century. After all, this legend clearly has Svatopluk not dying, but “disappearing amid his [Nitrian] folk.”

Authors: Homza, Martin

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2022.15.2.16-34

Publication order reference: prof. Martin Homza, Dr.; Comenius University Bratislava, Faculty of Arts, Department of Slovak History, Gondova 2, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9557-0908, WOS Researcher ID: GMW-7722-2022, SCOPUS Author ID: ID 56043614800

Source: Konštatínove listy, 2022, vol.: 15, issue: 2, pages: 16-34 (PDF file)

Keywords: SVATOPLUK I, ST. METHODIUS, VICHING, TRADITION, INTERPRETATION, THE ROLE OF SVATOPLUK IMAGE IN SLOVAK TRADITION, PARTICULARISM, UNIVERSALISM, REX SCLAVORUM

Language: ENGLISH

Recommended Citation:
Homza, Martin. 2022. The Image and Interpretation of Svatopluk in the Eyes of Slovak Historians Over the Last Hundred Years and One Short Remark at the End. In Konštantínove listy [Constantine’s Letters] 15/2, 35-59