Union with Bohemia History of Moravia

bohemian state in 10th century



jobst of moravia, margrave of moravia , king of romans

following defeat of magyars emperor otto @ battle of lechfeld in 955, otto s ally boleslaus i, přemyslid ruler of bohemia, received moravia. bolesław chrobry of poland annexed moravia in 999, , ruled until 1019, when přemyslid prince bretislaus recaptured it. since then, moravia has shared history bohemia. upon father s death in 1034, bretislaus became ruler of bohemia. in 1055, bretislaus decreed bohemia , moravia inherited primogeniture, although provided younger sons should govern parts (quarters) of moravia vassals oldest son.

throughout přemyslid era, junior princes ruled or part of moravia olomouc, brno or znojmo, varying degrees of autonomy ruler of bohemia. (mainly dukes of olomouc used act right hand of prague dukes , kings. dukes of brno , of znojmo more insubordinate.) moravia reached height of autonomy in 1182, when emperor frederick elevated conrad ii otto of znojmo status of margrave, subject emperor, independent of bohemia. status short-lived: in 1186, conrad otto forced obey supreme rule of bohemian duke frederick. 3 years later, conrad otto succeed frederick duke of bohemia , subsequently canceled margrave title. nevertheless, margrave title restored in 1197 when vladislaus iii, duke of bohemia resolved succession dispute between him , brother ottokar abdicating bohemian throne , accepting moravia vassal land of bohemian (i.e., prague) rulers. vladislaus gradually established land margraviate, administratively different bohemia.

kingdom of bohemia , adjacent lands during hussite wars

the main line of přemyslid dynasty became extinct in 1306, , in 1310 john of luxembourg became margrave of moravia , king of bohemia. in 1333, made son charles next margrave of moravia (later in 1346, charles become king of bohemia). in 1349, charles gave moravia younger brother john henry ruled in margraviate until death in 1375, after him moravia ruled oldest son jobst of moravia in 1410 elected holy roman king died in 1411 (at present day, buried father in church of st. thomas in brno - moravian capital both ruled from). moravia , bohemia remained within luxembourg dynasty of holy roman kings , emperors (except during hussite wars), until inherited albert ii of habsburg in 1437.

after death followed interregnum until 1453; land (as rest of lands of bohemian crown) administered landfriedens (landfrýdy). rule of young ladislaus posthumous subsisted less 5 years , subsequently (1458) hussite george of poděbrady elected king. again reunited czech lands (then bohemia, moravia, silesia, upper & lower lusatia) one-man ruled state. in 1466, pope paul ii excommunicated george , forbade catholics (i.e. c. 15% of population) continuing serve him. hungarian crusade followed , in 1469 matthias corvinus conquered moravia , proclaimed himself (with assistance of rebelling bohemian nobility) king of bohemia.

the subsequent 21-year period of divided kingdom decisive rising awareness of specific moravian identity, distinct of bohemia. although moravia reunited bohemia in 1490 when vladislaus jagiellon, king of bohemia, became king of hungary, attachment moravian freedoms , resistance government prague continued until end of independence in 1620. in 1526, vladislaus son louis died in battle , habsburg ferdinand elected successor.