Prince Rastislav - a second Great Moravian King (846-870) from the genus Mojm�rovc�. During his reign Moravia arrived missionaries Cyril and Methodius. Czech Orthodox Church in 1994, it declared a saint.

Rastislav (better known as the Czech Rostislav) was the nephew and successor Mojm�ra later, the first ruler of Great Moravia. On princely throne, still not too strong state, he helped the monarch, Louis the German East Francia II., Who promised to Rastislava subordinate support. This is but the role of an obedient vassal did not want to accept this, and so in 850 with the empire broke contact. Tensions increased after the country ousted from Rastislav Latin priest, so that further limited the influence of the Franks. Louis decided to punish Rastislava and in the year 855 that organized a military expedition, which arrived to the gates of the princely forts. In the ensuing battle, however, the Great Moravian army Franky per capita defeated and chased them up the river Danube.

Three years after the invasion Rastislav teamed up with Louis's son Karlomanem who had the management of the Bavarian Eastern March and would like them despite his father created his own kingdom. Louis responded to the pact with pagan Bulgarians. To his allies belonged to the ruler of the principality BLATENSK�HO Pribina, to whom therefore Rastislav attacked and to fill the vacancy, appointing his son poslu�n�j��ho Koce�a.

To change the balance of forces occurred after he Karloman reconciled with her father and militarily turned against his former allies of Great Moravia. She was threatened not only strengthened Franky, but also their allies Bulgarians.

Rastislav needed to raise the prestige of his country: the respect he should bring Christian mission, which would replace the expelled Frankish clergy. First sent messengers to the Pope in Rome, when no answer, he turned to the Byzantine Emperor Michael III. He responded favorably, so in 863 Moravia arrived hailed from Salonika brothers Cyril and Methodius. Preached in the Old Slavonic language in the population can therefore quickly gained popularity. A year later in Moravia again raided Louis the German and his army. Rastislav this time had to obey the eastern kingdom, plus the return of the expelled priests. Cyrilometod�jsk� mission still went on and did not break it even more Louis's invasion in 869. St. Methodius was also the pope finally recognized as a bishop of the Moravian-Pannonian, thereby consolidating their power ranking of Great Moravia.

The life of another Moravian ruler, however, ended ingloriously. His nephew Svatopluk, Rastislav who commissioned the Government of the Principality of Nitra, allied with the eastern kingdom and recognized its sovereignty over its territory. It Rostislav perceived as a betrayal and moreover rightly feared that will be exposed to the threat of attack from several sides. So he decided Svatopluka overthrow. Prepared pitfall, however, because disclosure came out and it was vice versa Rostislav, who became a prisoner. Svatopluk uncle gave his opponents v�chodofransk�mu King Louis II. The Germans, who had Rostislav blind and imprisoned for life in Bavaria.