The Moravians (
Old Slavic self-designation Moravljane,[1]Slovak: Moravania,
Czech: Moravané) were a
West Slavic tribe in the
Early Middle Ages. Although it is not known exactly when the Moravian tribe was founded, Czech historian
Dušan Třeštík claimed that the tribe was formed between the turn of the 6th century to the 7th century, around the same time as the other Slavic tribes.[2] In the 9th century Moravians settled mainly around the historic region of
Moravia and
Western Slovakia, but also in parts of
Lower Austria (up to the
Danube) and Upper
Hungary.
The first known mention of the Moravians was in the
Annales Regni Francorum in 822 AD. The tribe was located by the
Bavarian Geographer (as Marharii) between the tribe of the
Bohemians and the tribe of the
Bulgarians. In the 9th century Moravians gain control over neighbouring Nitra and founded the realm of
Great Moravia, ruled by the
Mojmír dynasty until the 10th century. After the breakup of the Moravian realm the Moravian tribe was divided between the
Duchy of Bohemia and
Principality of Hungary. The western Moravians were assimilated by the Czechs and presently identify as
Czechs (see
Moravians (ethnic group)). The modern nation of the
Slovaks was formed out of the eastern part of the Moravian tribe within the
Kingdom of Hungary.[3]
Graus, František (1980). Die Nationenbildung der Westslawen im Mittelalter. Jan Thorbecke Verlag, Sigmaringen.
ISBN3-7995-6103-X. (German)
Lubomír E. Havlík: Svatopluk Veliký, král Moravanů a Slovanů [Svatopluk the Great. King of the Moravians and Slavs]. Jota, Brno 1994,
ISBN80-85617-19-6. (Czech)
Havlík, Lubomír E. (2013). Kronika o Velké Moravě. Jota, o.O.
ISBN978-80-8561-706-1. (Czech)
Třeštík, Dušan (2008). Počátky Přemyslovců. Vstup Čechů do dějin (530–935) [The Beginnings of the Přemyslids. The Enter of the Czechs into History (530–935)]. Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, o.O.
ISBN978-80-7106-138-0. (Czech)
Dušan Třeštík: Vznik Velké Moravy. Moravané, Čechové a střední Evropa v letech 791–871 [The Founding of Great Moravia. Moravians, Czechs and Middle Europe in the years 791–871]. Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, o.O. 2010,
ISBN978-80-7422-049-4 (Czech)