This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tankred (talk | contribs) at 11:59, 2 May 2006 (new article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 11:59, 2 May 2006 by Tankred (talk | contribs) (new article)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Pribina, also called Priwina or Privina by Frankish chronicles, was the first known prince of the Principality of Nitra (?-833) and of the Balaton Principality (?840-861). 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 reign.
Pribina originally ruled the Slavic Principality of Nitra, located in present-day western, central and northern eastern Slovakia. Although Conversio characterized him as a pagan, he built a Christian church in his capital Nitra. The church was consecrated by Bishop Adalram of Salzburg in c. 828. The church may have served to Christian merchants living in Nitra or to Pribina's Bavarian wife. In addition, several castles were constructed in Pribina's realm.
In 833, Pribina was ousted from Nitra by the Moravian prince Mojmír I. Despite fierce resistance (documented by destruction of the castles in Pobedim and Čingov), the two states were finally unified by Mojmír I, forming the core of his Great Moravian Empire. Pribina with his family and retinue escaped to the Franks, but he left Eastern march after a dispute with its count Ratbod. His attempts to gain allies in Bulgaria and Croatia failed, so he returned to East Francia. He was baptized and reconciled with Ratbod. King Louis the German even granted him the Balaton principality as a fief.
After Pribina's arrival to his new principality, numerous hill forts and churches were built. The prince also founded a new capital, Blatnograd (or Blatnohrad, later called Mosapurc, in present-day Zalavár). 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.
 | This biography of a member of a European royal house is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |