Mojmír II
Encyclopedia
Mojmir II (?-(?)906) was the last king of the Great Moravian Empire (894-?906). Because of a civil war with his brother, he failed to prevent dismemberment of his Empire and probably died while fighting Magyar invaders.
Mojmir succeeded his father Svatopluk I
as the king of Great Moravia in 894. At the same time, the Principality of Nitra
was given as an appanage
to his brother Svatopluk II
. But Svatopluk II, supported by Arnulf of Carinthia
, king of East Francia, rebelled against Mojmir II in 895 and again in 897, when he concluded an agreement of cooperation with Arnulf. As a result, Mojmir II attacked his brother, but was defeated by East Frankish troops sent to support Svatopluk II's rebellion.
Weakened by internal conflict, Great Moravia lost its peripheral territories: It ceded the Balaton Principality
to the Eastern Franks in 894, after Magyar tribes had looted this region. Bohemia
, seceding from Great Moravia in the following year, became Arnulf’s vassal. Another danger emerged, when Magyars crossed the Carpathians
to definitely stay in the Carpathian Basin (895/896). In 896, they settled or were settled in the Great Moravian scarcely populated territory around the upper/middle Tisza River and in 900/901, after several looting raids in Europe, they moved to Transdanubia. Also, Lusatia
left the Great Moravian empire in 897 and became Arnulf's vassal.
Despite these disasters, Mojmir managed to consolidate his power. In 898 he asked the Pope to consecrate new Great Moravian clerics in order to decrease the influence of Bavarian clerics in his country. The Bavarians (i.e. Eastern Franks), upset by the 898 demand, sent troops to Great Moravia, which were defeated by Mojmir II. Moreover, Mojmir captured the still rebellious Svatopluk II
. But Svatopluk II was eventually rescued by the Bavarian troops, with whom he fled to Germany.
After the death of king Arnulf, the Pope finally sent his legates to consecrate a Great Moravian archbishop and three bishops in 899, decreasing thus influence of Bavarian clergy. The only thing we know about them is that the archbishop allowed liturgies to be conducted in Old Church Slavonic
again (i.e. as opposed to Latin liturgies) and one of them had his seat in Nitra
.
As mentioned above, in 900 the Magyars invaded Transdanubia
(a former Great Moravian territory occupied by Franks) and raided Bavaria together with Mojmir’s troops. Eastern Francia was compelled to conclude a peace treaty with Great Moravia in 901 and Mojmir was reconciled with his brother, who is assumed to have returned to Great Moravia about this time. The peace treaty with the Eastern Franks also put an end to wars between Great Moravia and the Frankish vassal Bohemia lasting since 895. When and whether the territory that is now southern Poland
seceded from Great Moravia is unknown.
Nevertheless, the Magyars become dangerous for both Eastern Francia and Great Moravia. Mojmir stopped their attacks in 902 and 906. In 904, he was even assisted by a Bavarian contingent. Mojmir II and Svatopluk II probably died in 906, a year of intense warfare with the Magyars.
In 907, the Magyars routed the Bavarian army at the three battles of Bratislava. Mojmir or any name of a successor is not mentioned in connection with this important battle(s).
After 907 the Great Moravian Empire began to disintegrate. The remnants of the core territory of Great Moravia were divided between the newly established states of Bohemia
and the Kingdom of Hungary
, and small local ruler(s) continued to rule for some decades in the mountains of what is now Slovakia
.
Mojmir succeeded his father Svatopluk I
Svatopluk I
Svatopluk I or Zwentibald I was the greatest ruler of Moravia that attained its maximum territorial expansion in his reign . His career had already started in the 860s, when he governed a principality, the location of which is still a matter of debate among historians, within Moravia under the...
as the king of Great Moravia in 894. At the same time, the Principality of Nitra
Principality of Nitra
The Principality of Nitra also Nitrian Principality or Slovak Principality is the name for a polity of Nitra Sloviens, centered on large agglomeration, a multi-tribal centre around Nitra, Slovakia. The initially independent Principality of Nitra came into existence in the early 9th century...
was given as an appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
to his brother Svatopluk II
Svatopluk II
Svatopluk II ruled the Principality of Nitra from 894 to 906 and strove to control all of Great Moravia.Svatopluk II was a younger son of Svatopluk I. As Prince of Nitra, Svatopluk II was subordinated to his older brother Mojmír II, the King of Great Moravia which contained the principality as its...
. But Svatopluk II, supported by Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of East Francia from 887, the disputed King of Italy from 894 and the disputed Holy Roman Emperor from February 22, 896 until his death.-Birth and Illegitimacy:...
, king of East Francia, rebelled against Mojmir II in 895 and again in 897, when he concluded an agreement of cooperation with Arnulf. As a result, Mojmir II attacked his brother, but was defeated by East Frankish troops sent to support Svatopluk II's rebellion.
Weakened by internal conflict, Great Moravia lost its peripheral territories: It ceded the Balaton Principality
Balaton Principality
The Principality of Lower Pannonia was a Slavic principality located in the western part of the Pannonian plain, between the rivers Danube to its east The Principality of Lower Pannonia (also called Pannonia, Lower Pannonia, Pannonian Principality, Transdanubian Principality, Slavic Pannonian...
to the Eastern Franks in 894, after Magyar tribes had looted this region. Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, seceding from Great Moravia in the following year, became Arnulf’s vassal. Another danger emerged, when Magyars crossed the Carpathians
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
to definitely stay in the Carpathian Basin (895/896). In 896, they settled or were settled in the Great Moravian scarcely populated territory around the upper/middle Tisza River and in 900/901, after several looting raids in Europe, they moved to Transdanubia. Also, Lusatia
Lusatia
Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland...
left the Great Moravian empire in 897 and became Arnulf's vassal.
Despite these disasters, Mojmir managed to consolidate his power. In 898 he asked the Pope to consecrate new Great Moravian clerics in order to decrease the influence of Bavarian clerics in his country. The Bavarians (i.e. Eastern Franks), upset by the 898 demand, sent troops to Great Moravia, which were defeated by Mojmir II. Moreover, Mojmir captured the still rebellious Svatopluk II
Svatopluk II
Svatopluk II ruled the Principality of Nitra from 894 to 906 and strove to control all of Great Moravia.Svatopluk II was a younger son of Svatopluk I. As Prince of Nitra, Svatopluk II was subordinated to his older brother Mojmír II, the King of Great Moravia which contained the principality as its...
. But Svatopluk II was eventually rescued by the Bavarian troops, with whom he fled to Germany.
After the death of king Arnulf, the Pope finally sent his legates to consecrate a Great Moravian archbishop and three bishops in 899, decreasing thus influence of Bavarian clergy. The only thing we know about them is that the archbishop allowed liturgies to be conducted in Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic or Old Church Slavic was the first literary Slavic language, first developed by the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius who were credited with standardizing the language and using it for translating the Bible and other Ancient Greek...
again (i.e. as opposed to Latin liturgies) and one of them had his seat in Nitra
Nitra
Nitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. With a population of about 83,572, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia and the country's earliest political and cultural center...
.
As mentioned above, in 900 the Magyars invaded Transdanubia
Transdanubia
Transdanubia is a traditional region of Hungary.-Traditional interpretation:The borders of Transdanubia are the Danube river , the Drava and Mura rivers and the foothills of the Alps roughly along the border between Hungary and Austria .Transdanubia comprises the counties of Győr-Moson-Sopron,...
(a former Great Moravian territory occupied by Franks) and raided Bavaria together with Mojmir’s troops. Eastern Francia was compelled to conclude a peace treaty with Great Moravia in 901 and Mojmir was reconciled with his brother, who is assumed to have returned to Great Moravia about this time. The peace treaty with the Eastern Franks also put an end to wars between Great Moravia and the Frankish vassal Bohemia lasting since 895. When and whether the territory that is now southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
seceded from Great Moravia is unknown.
Nevertheless, the Magyars become dangerous for both Eastern Francia and Great Moravia. Mojmir stopped their attacks in 902 and 906. In 904, he was even assisted by a Bavarian contingent. Mojmir II and Svatopluk II probably died in 906, a year of intense warfare with the Magyars.
In 907, the Magyars routed the Bavarian army at the three battles of Bratislava. Mojmir or any name of a successor is not mentioned in connection with this important battle(s).
After 907 the Great Moravian Empire began to disintegrate. The remnants of the core territory of Great Moravia were divided between the newly established states of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
and the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, and small local ruler(s) continued to rule for some decades in the mountains of what is now Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
.