14 Facts About Pribina

Pribina was the first ruler of Slavic origin to build a Christian church on Slavic territory in Nitra, and the first to accept baptism.

Pribina was attacked and expelled from his homeland by Mojmir I, duke of Moravia.

Pribina first fled to Ratpot, one of the border lords in East Francia.

Pribina seems to have been a member of the Bavarian Wilhelminer family.

The king ordered that Pribina be baptized in the church of Traismauer and then serve with his followers in Ratpot's army.

However, Malamir of Bulgaria had by that time made peace with East Francia, thus Pribina was unable to persuade him to act against the Franks.

Subsequently, Pribina departed for Lower Pannonia, the region ruled by a Slavic prince, Ratimir.

Since Lower Pannonia was part of Ratpot's prefecture, Ratimir's harboring of Pribina was tantamount to rebellion.

The above mentioned Pribina stopped, and crossed the river Sava, together with his men, where Count Salacho gave shelter to him and brought about his reconciliation with Ratbot.

Pribina then began to live there, to build a fortress in a certain forest and swamp on the Zala River, gathered the surrounding peoples, and greatly thrived in that land.

Pribina's authority stretched from the Raba river to the north, to Pecs to the southeast, and to Ptuj to the West.

Pribina undertook to Christianize the local population and built churches in the region.

Pribina made a donation of three hundred homesteads and vineyards on a knee of the river Zala to the monastery of Niederaltaich, which was confirmed in 860 by Louis the German.

Pribina seems to have played a prominent role in Louis the German's campaigns against Mojmir I of Moravia.