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ship, with its temples, idols, and priests. | common weal, and with the distributions The principal temple of the Slavonians, of justice. The assembly of the starosts* neatly constructed of wood, consisted decided respecting the affairs of a whole chiefly of an exterior and interior part. tribe; the priests, however, as interpreters The wooden walls of the outward division of the divine will, exercised the greatest were covered with carvings, but the inte- influence. The oldest laws (zakony) were rior compartment rested on pillars, and of religious origin. Property was herediinstead of walls was hung with cloths. Intary and divisible. Slavery was unknown. the inmost part stood the idol, colossal in size if of wood, small and raised on a pedestal if of metal; other smaller figures were ranged at each side. Besides the vessels of sacrifice and the consecrated banners of war, the temple was filled with the treasures and arms taken from the conquered enemies, which were offered to the deities. None but the priests durst enter the inner part, and these held their breath from veneration when they approached the god. In the outward part of the temple the wealth and splendour of the nation were displayed; for fixed contributions were levied for its support and

ornament. Besides the principal temple of the land, there were particular temples in the chief place of each zupa, which the zupa was obliged to maintain. They were chiefly erected in the middle of the castles, on an open spot shaded by holy trees; some were raised, however, in groves connected with the castles."

The picture which the historian draws of the earliest state of society among the Slavonians agrees with what we have described as the leading features of the Bohemians of the present day.

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The larger landed proprietors (lechi slechtici) acquired early considerable importance among the people; they became starosts, not alone from their age, but likewise from the weight of their possessions and their experience, and this influence, together with the dignity which was inherited through several generations, brought the Slavonians to acknowledge, at length, the first knezen or princes, after the example of neighbouring nations."

The conflict for the supremacy on the one side and for independence on the other began between the Germans and their Bohehemian neighbors, after Charlemagne had extended the Frankish sway, by his victories over the Saxons and the Avars, to the banks of the Elbe and the Raab. The Bohemians had joined him as allies against the barbarous Avars, which proved however to be short-sighted policy. Of all the destroyers of the human race, we follow the steps of Charlemagne with the greatest sympathy, as his conquests opened the way to many nations for the light of Christianity, clothed, it is true, in the Germanic guise of monarchy; that is to say, identifying its doctrines with the institutions of a church which ac

"Their principal seats in antiquity lay to the north of the Carpathians, between knowledged a human head. Whatever may the Vistula and the Don, remote from, and have been the merits of this church, or rathinaccessible to, the Greeks and Romans, er of its members, in those dark ages, and offering nothing that could powerfully we are not disposed to underrate them, it awaken their curiosity. For the Slavo- must be clear that this cumbrous superstrucnians were-ever unlike the Germans and ture, burdening the all-intelligible lessons Sarmatians, who were conquering, war-of wisdom and love contained in the Gospel, like, nomadic nations-fond of peace, at- and implying, as it necessarily did, the oblitached to agriculture, cattle breeding, the mechanical arts, and commerce. As a peaceful, agricultural people, they appear from the oldest times to have had no fixed national arrangements for war. Brave as they often showed themselves to be, they scarcely ever used their arms to attack others, but solely for defence; neither did they fight on horseback, but on foot, as shield-bearers. Generals (woiewody) were only chosen by them in time of war; their power ceased with the establishment of peace. The warlike, piratical tribe of the Wilten formed, however, an exception in this respect. Their most ancient civil institufions, as far as we know them, were those of a harmless people, of a nation yet in its infancy. As neither the rule of a prince nor any distinctions of rank were originally known among them, the eldest (starsi, starosti,) in each commune were charged with the care for the

gation of tribute to be paid by the proselytes, was a great impediment to the extension of Christianity. The word of truth, in short, could only advance with this incumbrance through the openings made by the conqueror's sword, and where this was met by equal skill and bravery the blessing was excluded, together with the miseries which it attempted to impose. Thus it was with the Bohemians, placed as they were on the farthest extremities of the Frankish empire; the feudal armies of Charlemagne overran the country indeed, and turned its fertile plains into a desert, but he was not

The starost, which was until lately a title of dignity in Poland, corresponds exactly to the Saxon alderman, the German graf, the Latin senator (senex); stary signifying old.

able to storm the towns, and still less to reserved for missionaries of a different sort. maintain possession of so distant a land. As We may here observe, that a firm convica natural consequence the Bohemians, for- tion prevails among the most enlightened tunately for themselves, and perhaps for Eu- men of Bohemia, that that country owed its rope, did not receive their first notions of first knowledge of Christianity, as well as Christianity at his hands. The Moravians the introduction of many of the arts of civwere the first of the Slavonic tribes upon the ilized life, to the intercourse maintained by Danube who were converted, and great pains the Slavonic nations on the Danube with the seem to have been taken at a very early pe- Greek Empire and its capital; but that the riod to assert the supremacy of the Romish smallest traces of such intercourse, which church in those countries; a forged bull of was particularly evident in the religious obEugenius II., bearing date of the 9th centu- servances, ornaments of the churches, &c., ry, but most probably drawn up in the 10th, were destroyed or utterly defaced as seeds being promulgated to prove the existence of of rebellion against the Romish see at varifour regular bishoprics in Moravia and Hun- ous subsequent epochs, when the country gary about the year 826. That Christian- was exposed to the fanatical persecutions of ity had spread both into those districts and the Popish party. We regret to say that, even into Bohemia, at an earlier period, from at the present day, the same disposition is the East, cannot be doubted, but the inhabi- but too openly manifested; the zeal of the tants were not looked upon as Christians clerical censors at Prague, under the influby the Germans, or by the Pope, until their ence of the ruling party, being no less watchsubjection to the rule of the latter. ful to prevent any allusions to these antinational proceedings, and but too prompt in in"The church at Neitra, which the arch- voking the aid of the secular authorities, bishop of Salzburg, Adolram, consecrated where any thing short of implicit obedience in 1836, was, if not the oldest built by the is manifested. We truly hope that, since Slavonians of the north-west, yet the old- the government has challenged the attention est of which any remembrance has been preserved. But those of Olmütz and Brünn of the civilized world, by sanctioning M. existed, according to documental evidence, Palacky's undertaking, he will be allowed in Moymir's time (825-846); and it can- a greater latitude of speech and investiganot be doubted that the famous old We- tion than has hitherto been suffered in his lerhad obtained its first churches at the predecessors. Our author unfortunately besame period. Many lechs (nobles), and a trays, in this most important part of his work, great part of the people in Moymir's do- the effect produced by the knowledge that minions, must therefore have professed it must be submitted to the inquisitorial powChristianity.

"In the year 844, fourteen Bohemian er of these judges in Israel. He evidently nobles (lechy) formed a resolution to em- nowhere ventures to develop the extent of brace Christianity, and repaired, in con- the connection between the Bohemians and sequence, towards the close of the year, the Greek Church and Empire, but adduces to Ratisbon, to King Louis the German, so much circumstantial evidence that it is who received them amicably, and had clear the papal supremacy was nowhere acthem baptized, with their trains, on the 1st knowledged among the Slavonians, but of January, A. D. 845. The names of these little princes, and the details of the solem-where the swords of its German champions nity of baptism, are unfortunately not re-enforced its reception. corded. This remarkable occurrence is the first historical notice of the spreading of Christianity among the Bohemians, although it cannot be doubted that this faith had, before that period, found professors there. One among other consequences of this act was, that the whole of Bohemia, before the erection of the bishopric of Prague, was included within the diocese of Ratisbon."

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"Christianity had made its way to the Slavonians who penetrated into Mosia, Thrace, Macedonia, and the Greek peninsula, as early as the beginning of the 6th century. The conversion of these tribes was the work of the Christian zeal of the Byzantines; it was mostly effected in a peaceable manner, and without resistance; as, not only in instruction, but also in the church service, the vernacular tongue of these nations was used, and thus both their reason and religious feeling were gained for Christianity. Slavonians were often entrusted with the most elevated charges at the imperial court, in the army, and even in the Church. Thus Nicetas, a Slavonian by birth, was raised in the year 766 to be Patriarch of Constantinople, and a hundred years later a Slavonian family

found its way, with the great Basil, the Macedonian, to the Imperial throne of Byzantium, on which it maintained itself for a century. These circumstances explain how, in the ninth century, two natives of Thessalonica, in Macedonia, at that time a half Greek and half Slavonian town, came to be the founders of the Slavonic written language, beginning in the worthiest manner the list of Slavonic authors."

midable Slavonic power that had hitherto appeared. The authority of the new Moravian king was acknowledged by all the Slavonian tribes, from the Danube to the Elbe, and his marriage with the daughter of the Duke of Bohemia was preceded by the conversion and baptism of her father Borziwoy. The baptism of Borziwoy was probably performed by Method in person and at the same epoch the Slavonic ritual The brothers, Cyrill and Method, here was introduced into Bohemia, of which the alluded to, and who are justly entitled the sole remains, the popular hymn, "Gospodi Apostles of the Slavonians, undertook the pomilui ny," may still be heard on Sundays, conversion of the Bohemians and Moravi-after the mass, sung by the people in the ans in a manner more likely to be success-two principal churches at Prague.

ful than that which had hitherto been tried. When the sinking sceptre of the Carolingians was grasped by the vigorous hand of "Whether the want of a suitable and Arnulf (888), a renewed attempt was made profound instruction, or the wish, even in by the Germans to subjugate what they this respect, to maintain himself independent of the Germans, or both together, pretended to consider the revolted Slavonic influenced him to enter into a close and tribes. The war lasted after the death of lasting alliance with Byzantium; Ratislaw both Arnulf and Swatopluk, and at length resolved to secure to his people the bene-merged into the fearful events which acfit of such a remarkable apostolic work. companied the first appearance of the MaHe therefore despatched an embassy to gyars (Hungarians) in Southern Europe. the Emperor Michael at Constantinople, demanding of him Slavonic-christian been totally dissolved by the efforts of the The Moravian kingdom had, however, teachers; for his people had, it is true, German armies from without, and those of with baptism adopted the Christian faith from the German priests, but this faith, an intriguing Romish priesthood within; from want of instruction, had not taken but Germany was doomed to pay a heavy root in their conviction. The Emperor penalty for this untimely piece of ambition. Michael was highly rejoiced at this em In a civilized age a just calculation of the bassy, and sent the Moravians the two balance of power, and a correct estimate of celebrated brothers, whom he amply sup- the means of defence which the other nations plied with all necessaries for the journey; of Europe had to wield, would have shown "In this manner Cyrill and Method came to Moravia, attended by several dis- the utility of preserving a power on the eastciples, where they were to achieve their ern frontier capable of resisting the attacks fairest work. There they finished the of the unsettled hordes of Asia, to which translation of the Holy Scriptures, and of the better cultivated regions of this quarter the necessary church books, travelling of the globe offer a continual lure. Were through the country to proclaim the word of God to the people in their own language. such a course of policy pursued at that time, we to speculate on the probable results of Numerous churches arose by their exertions, and the service in the Slavonian we might picture to ourselves the earlier language was soon spread not only over advancement of those splendid countries Moravia, but penetrated even to their which lie between the Carpathians and the neighbors, the Slavonians of Pannonia. Black Sea, to a state of high civilization. The maintenance of a different element of religious discipline in one half of Europe must have delivered either part from the danger of being priest-ridden. The invading Magyars, Moguls, and Turks, having so formidable a bulwark to oppose their inroads, would not have carried their devastating arms, which produced even more lamentable moral effects, into the of civilized Europe. But let us turn from heart very speculation upon that which might have been to the melancholy picture of reality.

*

* * The archbishop Adalwin, of Salzburg, celebrated, for the last time, the festival of Christmas with Kocel, in his castle of Mossburg, at the Balaton Lake, soon after which this prince, with his whole people, went over to the Slavonic preachers, whom the German diocesans had vainly endeavored to banish and keep

at a distance."

The result of this alienation from the German alliance was a series of wars be tween the Slavonians of Moravia and the German princes of the Carolignian line, which, after many remarkable changes of fortune, ended in leaving Swatopluck, nephew of Ratislaw, at the head of the most for

The fall of the Moravian kingdom, and the weakness of king Louis the Child, opened the gates of Germany, France, and

Italy, to these rapine-seeking hordes. The Hungarians, mounted upon swift horses, lightly armed, and dangerous even in flight, were yearly seen to go out in quest of booty, and reach their homes with im punity. In 908 they advanced into Saxony and Thuringia; 909 into Swabia; 910 into Bavaria and Franconia (on which occasion the German king submitted to the obligation of tribute); 912 into Franconia and Thuringia; 913 into Swabia; 915 as far as Fulda and Bremen; 917 into Switzerland, Alsace, and Lorraine; 919 into Italy and France; 922 into Italy: 924 through Italy into the South of France, as well as into Saxony and to the Rhine; 926 to the Rhine again, Alsace, and Switzerland. Swift and unexpected, like a fearful hurricane, they swept across these countries, destroying every thing in their way, and disappeared again before the heavy-armed troops of Germany could assemble to oppose them. As plunder and rapine were their only objects, they delayed nowhere to besiege fortified places; they hurried past them, and avoided greater battles, in order to return the more surely with the collected booty."

man of warlike and ungovernable temper, shared the discontent which these proceedings created in the country, and is said to have murdered the pious Wenceslaw, upon which the nation elected him by acclamation as his successor.

The monkish his

torians, with one accord, accuse Boleslaw, and his mother, Drahomira, who took part with him, as Pagans, and represent this revolution as an attempt to abolish Christianity. If, however, we compare what has been said of the early introduction of Christianity into these countries from the East, and the probability of the whole, or the greatest part, of the inhabitants having been converted before the ruling house adopted the Christian faith, with the known contest for supremacy between the Papal and the Slavonian parties, we shall not be judged overhasty in surmising that the quarrel in reality concerned the two forms of Christian worship; the national one, which likewise sanctioned the reading of the Scriptures by the people at large, being looked upon by the Romish clergy as in no degree better than heathenism. The historians of Bohemia hitherto have universally followed the chroniclers, and even Professor Schneller, in the abridged edition of his history, published after he had withdrawn beyond the reach of Austrian persecution, roundly taxes Boleslaw and Drahomira with Paganism. M. Palacky evidently partakes the prevailing opinion of the present times, that the dispute lay between the two existing Christian parties in the land, but, having no other historical evidence to adduce which would set the matter beyond When the Magyars at length settled in dispute, contents himself with remaining their present seats, they formed so formida- silent upon the point. Whether the orthoble a barrier between the Bohemians and dox zeal of the Prague censors has supthe neighbouring Slavonians and the Greek pressed any part of his original MS. in this empire, that this, together with the contin-place, a calamity to which he unquestiona ual decay of the Byxantine and the constant bly exposed, we have naturally no means of growth of the Papal influence, probably ascertaining. explain the ascendency gradually obtained by the advocates for the Latin liturgy over the national preference for that in the language of the country. The final victory of the Latins was, however, marked by a fearful event.

When at length the German emperors, after years of preparations and wise policy, had sufficiently improved the discipline of their troops, and roused the spirit of the nation to meet these marauders in the field, the bloody and decisive battles which were to put an end to their devastations were still fought in the very heart of their own empire, on the banks of the Saale and the Lech. The allied troops of the Dukes of Bohemia did good service on both these

occasions.

That the death of Wenceslaw did not cause the re-establishment of Paganism in Bohemia is certain; while the acceptance of Christianity by the contemporary ruler of Poland seems to have been brought about by the persuasions and example of the daughter of Boleslaw.

The Bohemian Duke Wenceslaw, a contemporary of the Emperor Henry the Fowler in Germany, had been educated by "In the year 965, Boleslaw married his his grandmother, Ludmilla, who was after-daughter, Dubrawka, to the Pagan Duke wards canonized, in the dogmas and ritual of Poland, Mecislaw or Mesek. Whether of the Romish Church. Of a weak mind, the Bohemian princess stipulated the conand thus drawn into the western alliance, version of her consort as a preliminary condition, or, as the chroniclers of other he cheerfully granted to the German em- countries assert, she induced him to take peror the tribute, which, when afterwards this step by proofs of devoted attachment, disputed, was certainly enforced by the and by judicious reasoning; it is certain, German arms. His brother, Boleslaw, aby unanimous testimony, that it was Du

brawka who caused the Polish Duke to become a Christian. He was baptised in 966, by a Bohemian priest, and a large portion of his people followed his example."

propen

connexion of this kind between Bohemia and the Empire. If the Bohemians had been free to choose, on the occasion of the struggle for independence attempted by the Saxons against the Franks in 1075, their evident policy would have been to leave the parties to fight it out among themselves. In the memorable battle on the Unstruth, even the German historians confess that, when the vanguard of the Swabians was thrown into disorder, it was the firmness of the Bohemians which restored the battle, and decided the victory. They may thus claim the mournful honor of having contributed to the subjugation of a people whose national character bore many more points of similarity to their own, than did that of

the restless and contentious Franks and

Swabians. On the banks of the Unstruth the basis of the future freedom of Germany, and all chance of independence for Bohemia, were destroyed at one blow.

If some of our readers think that we have dwelt too long upon the manner and details of the conversion of the Bohemians to Christianity, our answer is a ready one. Upon the circumstances attending this conversion the whole series of important events of which Bohemia was, in after times, the theatre, may be said to hang. The state of the country, too, at the present day, can only be understood when considered from this point of view. Particular mental sities are inherited for a much longer period by nations than by the individuals of a family; and the appeal made so early to the reason and feelings of the nation on matters of religion, accompanied, as it was, matters of religion, accompanied, as it was, by a kind of obligation to canvass the respective merits of the two rituals, during Bohemia down to the year 1197, and The first volume brings the history of the period of the contest for supremacy, left a disposition behind to look closely into although it contains, as we have seen, despiritual matters, which has manifested bateable matter enough, yet its importance, itself under many various political conjec- as far as the history of the other European tures. Unluckily for the Romish faith, it states is concerned, is less than that of the began by setting the national feeling against yet unpublished volumes must prove. In it, by relying for support upon the fact, we fear that, unless some unexpected sive and repressive power of foreign conchange takes place in the system now in querors. Thus scarcely any outbreaking force in Austria, according to which no of discontent upon religious matters has publication is permitted which calls in failed of awakening the national hatred of question the infallibility of any line of policy foreigners; and we fear the feeling is deeply adopted since the accession of the first sown, which, in a violent struggle for politi- Hapsburg, we must wait long for the apcal rights, would prompt the mass of the pearance of the continuing volumes. If country to throw themselves into the arms M. Palacky does not assume a compliant of an ally, whose hatred of the now pretone, he can scarcely expect to meet with vailing ritual might promise to rid them of more favour than his precursors. Of Pelthat, with other badges of a galling sub-zel's Bohemian history, the most meritojection.

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We return to the course of the history. The first papal legate appeared in Bohemia in 1072, on the occasion of a dispute between the Bishops of Prague and Olmütz, respecting the revenues of the lands and castle of Podiwin. The Bishop of Prague was summoned to Rome, and humbled himself before the ambitious Gregory VII., whose anger he deprecated.

When M. Palacky speaks of an alliance between the Emperor Henry IV. and Wratislaw of Bohemia, we regret that he does not more fully explain his meaning, or quote his authorities. The German historians, and even Schneller, look upon the aid lent by the Bohemians as the tribute due from a vassal to his suzerain, and under both the Frankish and Swabian emperors there can be no doubt of the existence of a

rious that has hitherto appeared, the third volume has been lying for years in manuscript for want of the necessary imprimatur, and a critical edition of one of the most valuable Bohemian chroniclers (Dalemil) has also been suppressed, from its commemorating the hatred with which the Germans inspired the inhabitants of the country in the 13th century.

Among the points of which M. Palacky would be able to furnish new and very valuable information, if the sources under the control of government were opened to him, or if he were allowed even to canvass freely those which he can now command, we may notice the following:-The part which the Slavonian nations bore in the repulsion of the Mogul invasion in the sisted almost unaided; the relations sub13th century, the brunt of which they resisting between the Germanic and Slavonic

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