Svatopluk I - Years of Expansion

Years of Expansion

Moravia underwent considerable expansion in the 870s. For instance, the Life of Methodius refers to the capture of "a very powerful pagan prince settled on the Vistula" in territory of later (Poland), and a letter written around 900 by Archbishop Theotmar of Salzburg states that Svatopluk conquered the region of Nitra that had been thereto inhabited by pagans. Modern historiography, however, has tended to question the former claims of huge neighboring territories permanently annexed by Moravia. For instance, there is little clear archaeological or written evidence of a permanent extension of Moravian centralization of power in Lesser Poland or to the west in Silesia, or in Pannonia, as it was suggested in earlier historical works.

Svatopluk's expansionist policy was perhaps so successful because most of West Europe was in the grip of unusually savage and large-scale Viking raids between 879 and 886. On the other hand, the Life of Methodius directly links Svatopluk's military achievements and Methodius's work. For instance, according to his Life, Methodius promised Svatopluk that if the prince would celebrate Saint Peter's Day in the archbishop's church, "God will soon deliver" his enemies to him, and "so it came to pass".

Nevertheless, at the court of Svatopluk who himself professed the Latin rite intrigues against Methodius and the liturgy serviced in Old Church Slavonic gathered strength. Svatopluk sent John of Venice, a known opponent of the Slavic liturgy, to Rome in 879 to achieve some settlement of ecclesiastical differences. In a letter addressed to Methodius in the same year, the pope sharply rebuked him for using Slavonic in liturgical services. Methodius, however, travelled to Rome in 880, together with a Moravian delegation. Under his influence Pope John VIII changed his mind: in a letter, known for its incipit, Industriae tuae, although the pope repeated that mass in Latin was to be sung whenever requested, that is for Svatopluk and his court, he also allowed the use of Slavonic liturgy. The letter even confirmed the decision taken by the Holy See during Rastislav's reign to create an archdiocese for Moravia. Upon Svatopluk's request the pope promoted a German priest, Wiching bishop of Nitra, but he added that the new bishop and all the clerics in Moravia are expected to be obedient to Methodius who remained the head of the Church in Moravia.

Your predecessor /Pope John VIII/ ordained Wiching bishop at the request of Duke Zwentibald; however, he never sent him into the ancient bishopric of Passau but to a newly baptized people whom that duke had defeated in war and converted from paganism to Christianity —Letter of Archbishop Theotmar of Salzburg and his suffragan bishops to Pope John IX