Great Morava - State Department of Western Slavs, also known as the Great Moravian Empire. Decaying mainly on the territory of present-day Moravia, western Slovakia and Hungary. At peak times intervened Great Moravia and Czech, German, Austrian, Romanian and Polish territory.

The first documented in writing ruler of Great Moravia was Prince Mojm�r I. Head of his Moravian principality probably remained in Mikulcice South Moravia. In 833 significantly expanded its territory incursion into the neighboring principality of Nitra and dethroning its ruler Pribina, who then settled in Pannonia. (Ed .: names and Moravian Principality of Nitra created to modern-day historians).

Successor Mojm�ra I. 1846 became his nephew Rastislav, under whose reign Moravia arrived missionaries Cyril and Methodius. 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. Frankish threat but insisted continue. Rastislav to increase the prestige of his country, asked for Christian mission. First, in Rome, and if 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 Rastislav, 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.

Expected rewards of putting on the Great Moravian throne but Svatopluk forthcoming. Instead, he sent two Frankish Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm and Engel�alka, who served as the country's administrators.

In the year 871 broke out against foreign domination rebellion, whose head stood Slavomir. Subsequent Frankish invasion repelled, although the Moravians, Louis II. German with the defeat, however, was not going to put up and sent another military expedition, headed had become just Svatopluk. He, however, at the last moment sided with the rebels, and Moravian Franks were soundly defeated.

In 874, King Louis recognized the power of Great Moravia, and Svatopluk, who undertook to pay fees Franks, made peace. This prince rid of ongoing threats and opened the way for its own expansion. For Svatopluk era of Great Moravia reached its peak and has become a true European superpower with its own church administration and archbishop. Slavonic was additionally recognized as the official liturgical language.

In 894 Svatopluk died. His successor Mojmir II. had to face the attacks of East Francia and later Hungarians.

At the beginning of the tenth century to fight exhausted Moravian Empire broke up into smaller self-governing territories. According to some historians contributed to the decline of Great Moravia also massive floods that hit the central area.