Abstract: In the 19th-21th centuries, Czech historiography has set the main themes and trends in the research of Svätopluk. This article analyses in detail the first part of the development arc the interpretation of Svätopluk – from his glorification to his downgrading – has undergone within this Central European school of history in the period under review. The vast scope of this subject made it necessary to divide the article into several shorter periods. Among the initial and underlying themes included in the interpretation of Svätopluk up to 1918 is his legitimist perception as the predecessor of the later Bohemian kings, as well as understanding Svätopluk’s kingdom as the archetype of the Habsburg monarchy. With the development of Czech political thought around 1914 – 1918, Svätopluk was perceived as the unifier of the Czechs and Moravians and eventually, with the establishment of the first Czechoslovak Republic, of the Slovaks as well. The traditional Czech anti-papal stance has logically resulted in Czech historians failing to pay the necessary attention to the Roman dimension of Svätopluk’s politics. Likewise, scholarly perspectives often fall short in emphasising his prevailing pro-Empire policy. Up to the 1960s – with few exceptions (Václav Novotný and František Graus) – Czech historiography focused in just certain issues and topics connected with the person and reign of Svätopluk. In the same spirit, it is obvious that the Czech interpretation of the first of the Moymirids aimed at meeting the current political demands of the Czech elites.

Author: Homza, Martin

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2024.17.2.98-112

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: Konštantínove listy, 2024, vol.: 17, issue: 2, pages: 98-112 (PDF file)

Keywords: SVÄTOPLUK I, BOŘIVOJ, ST. METHODIUS, COSMAS OF PRAGUE, (PSEUDO)CHRISTIAN, TRADITION, INTERPRETATION, LEGITIMISM, CENTRAL EUROPE, PAPACY, REX SCLAVORUM

Language: ENGLISH

Recommended Citation:

Homza, Martin. 2024. Svätopluk in Czech and Czech-written Historiography. A Few Critical Remarks. Part one: Up to the 1960s. In Konštantínove listy [Constantine’s Letters] 17/2, 98-112.