Moravia’s History Reconsidered a Reinterpretation of Medieval Sources : A Reinterpretation of Medieval Sources

This study represents the unexpected outcome of an enquiry into the resources for the study of the medieval history of East Central Europe. While reading sources for a planned survey of medieval Poland, Bo­ hemia, Hungary, and Croatia, it became apparent to me that many current presentations of the history of Bohemia and Moravia were not based on viable evidence. Sources pertaining to the lives of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, as well as those for the study of Moravia, had been subjected to unwarranted interpretations or emendations, other sources of significance had been entirely omitted from considera­ tion, and finally, crucial formulations concerning Cyril and Methodius and Moravian history had been made in recent historiography without any basis in sources. Hen:e this study: an exercise in confronting the axioms of modern histori( 'graphy, philology and archaeology with the testimony of sources. My study is more of all introduction to the problems of Moravia's history than a set of fim 1 definitions and solutions. It will lead, ne­ cessarily, to a series of enquiries into the early history of several nations of East Central Europe, of the Church history of that region, and of various disciplines connected with the study of the Cyrillo-Methodian legacy. 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While reading sources for a planned survey of medieval Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, and Croatia, it became apparent to me that many current presentations of the history of Bohemia and Moravia were not based on viable evidence. Sources pertaining to the lives of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, as well as those for the study of Moravia, had been subjected to unwarranted interpretations or emendations, other sources of significance had been entirely omitted from consideration, and finally, crucial formulations concerning Cyril and Methodius and Moravian history had been made in recent historiography without any basis in sources. Hence this study: an exercise in confronting the axioms of modern historiography, philology and archaeology with the testimony of sources. My study is more of all introduction to the problems of Moravia's history than a set of firm definitions and solutions. It will lead, necessarily, to a series of enquiries into the early history of several nations of East Central Europe, of the Church history of that region, and of various disciplines connected with the study of the Cyrillo-Methodian legacy. Contents ... vii Preface ... ix ◦ I. REWRITING MORAVIA’S HISTORY ... 1 a. A brief outline of the history of Moravia ... 3 b. Premises of Moravian history ... 6 c. The diocese of Saint Methodius ... 11 d. Moravia part of Slavonia ... 14 e. Slavonic liturgy in Croatia and Dalmatia ... 18 ◦ II. BASIC PREMISES ... 21 a. Marava, Maravenses and Moravia ... 21 b. Slavonia ... 27 ◦ III. THE REALM OF MORAVIA ... 31 a. Testimony of Western Chronicles and Annals ... 31 b. Testimony of Byzantine sources ... 76 ◦ IV. THE EPISCOPACY AND DIOCESE OF ST. METHODIUS ... 86 a. Testimony of Ecclesiastic sources ... 86 b. The so-called “Forgeries of Lorch” ... 97 ◦ V. MEDIEVAL HISTORIOGRAPHY ON MORAVIA ... 104 a. Tradition and evidence south of the Drava ... 104 b. Tradition and evidence north of the Danube ... 118 ◦ VI. ARCHEOLOGY AND PHILOLOGY CONCERNING MORAVIA ... 141 a. Evidence derived from archeology ... 141 b. Philological evidence ... 146 ◦ VII. CONCLUSION ... 159 ◦ Bibliography ... 161 Index ... 165 Contents ... vii Preface ... ix ◦ I. REWRITING MORAVIA’S HISTORY ... 1 a. A brief outline of the history of Moravia ... 3 b. Premises of Moravian history ... 6 c. The diocese of Saint Methodius ... 11 d. Moravia part of Slavonia ... 14 e. Slavonic liturgy in Croatia and Dalmatia ... 18 ◦ II. BASIC PREMISES ... 21 a. Marava, Maravenses and Moravia ... 21 b. Slavonia ... 27 ◦ III. THE REALM OF MORAVIA ... 31 a. Testimony of Western Chronicles and Annals ... 31 b. Testimony of Byzantine sources ... 76 ◦ IV. THE EPISCOPACY AND DIOCESE OF ST. METHODIUS ... 86 a. Testimony of Ecclesiastic sources ... 86 b. The so-called “Forgeries of Lorch” ... 97 ◦ V. MEDIEVAL HISTORIOGRAPHY ON MORAVIA ... 104 a. Tradition and evidence south of the Drava ... 104 b. Tradition and evidence north of the Danube ... 118 ◦ VI. ARCHEOLOGY AND PHILOLOGY CONCERNING MORAVIA ... 141 a. Evidence derived from archeology ... 141 b. Philological evidence ... 146 ◦ VII. CONCLUSION ... 157 ◦ Bibliography ... 159 Index ... 165