History

Bratislava was founded in the crossroad of two important trade routes: the Podunajska, which connected the east and the southeast of Europe with the west; and the Jantarova, which connected the southern Adriatic area with the northern Baltic area. A settlement of Celtic Tribe existed in the Early Iron age in the place of today’s city of Bratislava. The Celts were known for their developed artisan production. A settlement like this is called oppidum. It was one of the most important ones in Central Europe. Since the 6th century, Bratislava was inhabited by Slavs. The first written evidence dates back to 907. Bratislava was a part of the old Hungary; later in became a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. It gained the town privileges in 1291 from the Hungarian King Ondrej III. In 1464 Bratislava gained the privilege of the sword from King Matej Korvin. This entitled the Town Council to punish the delinquents with the capital punishment. In the year 1465 the first university in Slovakia was established in Bratislava called Academia Istopolitana. It was founded by Matej Korvin with the approval of the Pope Paul II. Two years later the university started accepting students into four departments: theology, law, medicine and philosophy. Unexpected turn in the history of the town was made in the 16th century. Hungarian King Ludovit II had perished in a tragic battle with Turks at Mohac in 1526. At a session in the Franciscan church in Bratislava, Ferdinand of Habsburg was elected to be a new king, despite the opposition of his rival candidate Jan Zapolsky and the resistance of a part of Hungarian nobility. Turks were advancing very fast into the country. Hungarian nobility protected themselves by fleeting into the territory of Slovakia. In 1530, Turks also jeopardized Bratislava, partially damaging it by shellfire. Disaster that afflicted Hungary after the battle at Mohac was paradoxically positive for Bratislava. After the capital of Hungary, Buda, was occupied, Hungarian nobility were looking for a refuge north of Danube river, close to where the King Ferdinand was residing. Convenient position and relative safety of Bratislava were the main factors that made it a capital city of Hungary. During 1526-1784 Bratislava was the capital of the Old Hungary. The town of merchants, craftsmen and wine-makers also became a place for nobility and church. Bratislava became an assembly town for the kingdom and a coronation town for the Hungarian kings, as well as the residence of the king and the archbishop. In 1805 in the Archbishop’s Palace, Bratislava Peace Treaty was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Austrian emperor Frantisek I. However, Napoleon didn’t respect the treaty and in June 26-28 of 1809 attacked Bratislava from the right bank of Danube. Since 1993, when Czechoslovakia was torn apart, Bratislava became the capital city of the independent Slovakia. Bratislava is the seat of the President, Slovak National Council and the most important cultural, industrial and scientific institutions.