Bratislava

History

See also: History of Bratislava (includes the development of the ethnic structure and important personalities)

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• Neolithic Age: the first permanent settlement of the region now known as Bratislava begins with the Linear Ceramics Culture
• 400 B.C.-50 B.C.: Celts were settled here. From 125 B.C. on they had an important oppidum (fortified town) with a mint here.
• 1st century – 5th century: the border of the Roman Empire (Limes Romanus) runs right through the middle of today's town; many Roman (e.g. "Gerulata") and Germanic settlements
• 6th century-8th century: first Slavs (500 A.D.- today) and Avarians (560s - 8th century)

:623-658: part of King Samo's Empire

Related Topics:
623 - 658 - Samo

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• late 8th century – 833: part of the Nitrian principality (Principality of Nitra)
• 833 – 907: part of Great Moravia
• 907 – 1918: part of Hungary (with short interruptions):

:1536-1784: capital of the Kingdom of Hungary (whose territory consisted until 1699 of today's Slovakia and parts of today's Western Hungary, because the Turks ruled Buda at that time); the Kingdom of Hungary was part of the Habsburg (i. e. Austrian) Monarchy from 1526 to 1918

Related Topics:
1536 - 1784 - Kingdom of Hungary - Turks - Buda - Habsburg - 1526 - 1918

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:1542-1848: meeting place of the Hungarian Diet (with short interruptions)

Related Topics:
1542 - 1848

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:1563-1830: coronation town for Hungarian kings (St. Martin's Cathedral (see the picture))

Related Topics:
1563 - 1830 - St. Martin's Cathedral

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:since the 18th century: a center of the Slovak national movement

Related Topics:
18th century - Slovak

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• 1919-1939: part of Czechoslovakia; official new name becomes "Bratislava"- instead of "Pre?porok" (Slovak) /"Pressburg" (German)/ "Pozsony" (Hungarian) in 1919
• 1939-1945: the capital of Slovakia
• 1945-1992: part of Czechoslovakia again:

:1969-1992: the capital of the Federal State of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia

Related Topics:
1969 - 1992 - Federal State - Czechoslovakia

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• since 1993: the capital of Slovakia

Names of the city

The main known names of the town were as follows:

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: 805/7 (maybe): Wratisslaburgium, Pisonium (Latin)

Related Topics:
Wratisslaburgium - Latin

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: late 9th century(?): Braslava (?)(assumed medieval Slavic form, probably after a Slav prince Braslav)

Related Topics:
9th century - Slavic - Braslav

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:around 850 : Istropolis (Greek, stems from the christianisation period, has been later used by king Matthias Corvinus)

Related Topics:
Greek - Christianisation - Matthias Corvinus

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:907: Brezalauspurc(h) (the first sure name; found in the Salzburg Annals; according to some sources derived from Braslava—see above; according to newer sources: derived from the name Predslav, the 3rd son of Svätopluk - see also after 1001; note that "P" and "B" are very often interchanged in Austrian and Bavarian local and family names as Bavarian accent does not differentiate between them)

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:after 1001: Preslav(v)a Civitas (Latin) (this name has been found only recently on coins)

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:1002: Poson (Hungarian form, probably after the 9th century Slav prince Bo?an)

Related Topics:
Hungarian - 9th century

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:1042: Brezesburg

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:1045: Bosenburg

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:1048: Brecesburg

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:1052: Poson, Brezisburg, Bresburc, Preslawaspurch

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:1098: Prespurch

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:1107: Bosan

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:1108: Preburch, Bosania, Prespurch, Bresbruch, Prespuerch, Brespurg, Posonia, Possen

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:1109: Bosan, Presburch

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:1142: Poson

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:1143: Bosonium

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:1146: Bosan

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:1147: Prespurch

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:1151 and 1163/4: Posonium (Latin, origin like Poson above)

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:1172 and 1194: Poson

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:1189: Bosonium, Brezburc, Bosonium quod Prespurc teutonice nuncupatur, Brisburc, Posonium

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:1197: Posony

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:1217: Posonia

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: ...

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:later also:

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:: - German: Pressburg, Preßburg

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::- Greek: Istropolis (meaning "the Danube City")

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:: - Latin: Posonium

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:: - Hungarian: Pozsony

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:: - Slovak: Pressporek (1773), Pre?porok (later) – stems from the German form

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:: - Czech: Pre?purk

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:: - French: Pressbourg, later: Presbourg – see e. g. the corresponding street name in Paris : rue de Presbourg

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:: - English: Pressburg(h)

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: 1918 temporarily: Wilsonovo mesto (i. e. "Wilson City", after U.S. President Woodrow Wilson)

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:since 1919: Bratislava (official name, origin disputed: according to older sources it is a mutilation of the old Slavic form Braslava, other say it is an invention by the US-president Wilson, according to newer sources it was created in the early 19th century by members of the Slovak movement and is derived (by mistake) from the name of the Bohemian ruler Bretislav)

Related Topics:
Bohemia - Bretislav

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