Mojmir I of Moravia

Mojmir I. (Latin: Moimarus, Moymarus, Slovak and Czech: MOJMÍR I., * unknown; † August 846 ) was for the 820 or early 830 years to 846, the first historically documented ruler of the Moravians ( " dux Maravorum " ) [ A 1 ] and namesake of the Moravian Mojmiriden Dynasty.

Historians Mojmir I. is credited with the creation of the Moravian state and its Christianization. In the year 846 he was replaced by Louis the German by his nephew Rastislav.

Origin

According to the blank later traditions of Tomáš Pešina z Čechorodu Mojmir was I. son of Moravian Kneses " Mojmar ", which was allegedly baptized by the Bishop of Passau, Urolf 804-806 and is said to have reigned 811-820 on the Moravians. In 815 Mojmar have in Frankfurt peace with Louis the German closed on the Oder, and then fought together with the Franks against the Avars.

This Mojmar is cited in the later tradition as Mojmir I.. He is said to have had three sons: Ljudevit, Boso and Mojmir II, who became his successor. Mojmir II ( the historically Mojmir I. known ruler ) should then have prevailed 820-842 over Moravia.

The name Mojmir (written Moimar, Moymar ) points according to some researchers on a Alans origin of the dynasty or the Moravians towards ever, these hypotheses, there are also in terms of formants, Russians, Croats and Serbs.

Rule

Power politics

Mojmir I. emerged as ruler of Moravia in 820 or early 830 years. The Moravians themselves are first mentioned by name 822, than the emissaries " all eastern Slavs " were heard the Pious in Frankfurt am Main from Frankish Emperor Louis. According to the historian Paul M. Barford the Moravians were received in Aachen and 815 in Paderborn already 811 by the Carolingian emperors. The records of the Bavarian geographer, according to whose list of all north of the Frankish Empire neighboring Slavic tribes of the Danube is dated 817-843, possessed the Moravians ( Marharii ) over 11 civitates ( castles / cities / counties ).

Beginning of 830 years is first mentioned by name also Mojmir I., but not in the context of mass baptism, but in his power struggle with a prince on the territory of today's western Slovakia.

"At the time came to Ratbod over the Danube, a certain Pribinov, banished from Mojmir, the Dux of the Moravians. "

The exact position Pribinov is controversial among historians. Thus, the historian Barford, Kováč and Steinhübel him described as independent ruler of the Principality of Nitra own while Havlík, Třeštík and I. Vlasto him for a Moravian subordinates Mojmir and may hold a member of the Mojmiriden Dynasty. Historians identify the Pribinov as princes are a political entity with its center in Nitra, usually indicate that Mojmir I have created from the union of his Moravian principality with the Pribinov the Mährerreich (Great Moravia ).

According to the historian Eric J. Goldberg Mojmir rose in 830 years as the supreme ruler of Moravia essentially becomes a king, which he - as well as his eventual successor - tried to Moravia to escape from the Frankish supremacy and to establish an independent Slavic kingdom.

Christianization

Moravia is under Mojmir the typical signs of a changing society: the old tribal structure and were associated with it religion collapsed long ago. For this reason, the Moravian Slavs were receptive to a new idea from the outside.

The historian Alexis P. Vlasto is due to archaeological sources believe that Mojmir was baptized at the latest Christian 818-825, other According to historians, it happened in the year 831 for this year mentions Albert Behaim in its written in the 13th century history of Passau bishops and dukes of Bavaria, that the Bishop of Passau, Reginhar have baptized " all the Moravians ." With reference to the fact that Behaim has probably taken the note from a reliable source and the message will fit very well the situation in Moravia at the beginning of 830 years in particular, the notice of historians such as Dušan Třeštík despite its late date as a relatively reliable classified. According Vlasto Moravia was with this mass baptism " on the way to be a Christian state " and also Třeštík writes that Mojmir I. the mass baptism of no more than tribal prince, but a prince of a developing country must have prevailed.

According to Goldberg Mojmir was I. a serious threat to the Bavarian and East Frankish king Louis the German, as Mojmir combines the Moravians not only under his rule, but because of the ongoing Christianization of Moravia also had access to state symbols of a Christian monarchy, such as liturgy, relics, church architecture and written.

End of the reign and succession

The exact circumstances around the end of the reign Mojmir I. are controversial. The Annales Fuldenses write for the year 846:

" ... King Louis took about mid-August a campaign against the Moravian Slavs, who were trying to drop. After the Lord position of order and after he had settled things according to his will, he appointed them Moimars nephew Rastiz as dux. From here he returned with great difficulty and great war losses over Bohemia back home. "

The historian Dušan Třeštík According to the wording in the Fulda annals is too general to draw a safe conclusion for the intervention of Louis the German in Moravia. So Goldberg leads the Frankish invasion of Moravia on a rebellious independence policy of Mojmir I. back, as a result of which he was deposed by Ludwig. Vlasto, in turn, indicates that Mojmir died in the year 846 first and succession disputes Ludwig had moved to intervene.

Primary sources

• Annales Fuldenses
• Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum