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Bratislava - the Coronation City
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How Bratislava Became Coronation City
There are only few cities in the world that hosted coronation ceremonies. Bratislava was honored to be coronation city for long 267 years when 10 Hungarian kings , 1 queen and 8 royal spouses, rulers of Czech and German lands, some of them Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were crowned here. By these acts the central European region was united, the history of Europe and whole world was changed. But how Bratislava became Coronation City?
Everything started with the Battle at Mohacs in August 1526, when Hungarian troops were overridden by Turkish army. King Louis II perished in this battle. He left no heir therefore a new fight over the royal crown begun between the richest Hungarian nobleman John Zapolya, who was supported by lesser nobility and Ferdinand I, supported by higher nobility and the royal court. John Zapolya was elected King in Belgrade on November 10, 1526, the day after he was crowned King of Hungary. Ferdinand did not wait. He called all his supporters to Bratislava and got elected king on December 26, 1526. Long lasting fight began. A truce was finally concluded in February 1538, John Zapolya and Ferdinand agreed to rule over certain parts of the country. Zapolya ruled in Transylvania, Central and Eastern Hungary, Ferdinand ruled in Western Hungary including current territory of Slovakia. One of the important towns for Ferdinand in this region was Bratislava. The town has from the beginning taken his side, he was elected king here, and Vienna was close. The position of Bratislava was also important. The town was protected by Danube River before further expansion of the Osman Empire. Due to this Bratislava was elected capital of all Hungary in 1536. In 1540 John Zapolya, the biggest rival of Ferdinand died and Ferdinand claimed again the right to rule over all Hungary. The escalation of troubles continued and Turks besieged all the central Hungary in 1541, including the royal seat Buda and in 1543 the traditional coronation city Belgrade. Hungary was thus divided into three parts. Central Hungary became part of Osman Empire. Transylvania became an independent principality under protection of Osman Empire. Western Hungary belonged to Ferdinand. Bratislava was capital till 1783 and seat of Hungarian Concilium till 1848. Ferdinand pursued the idea of strengthening the influence of the Habsburg Family in the region. Therefore he pushed through the crowning of his son Maximilian during his life. Coronation ceremony took part on September 8, 1563 on Virgin Mary Day in St. Martin’s Dome. This pompous ceremony was attended by Ferdinand as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. But at those moments nobody knew a new important tradition of coronation ceremonies started and lasted long 267 years, till 1830.
Important historic events in Bratislava
Reign of Maria Theresa was the period of the biggest development of Bratislava, at that time the town was the biggest and most important town not only of Slovak lands but of all Hungary. The castle turned to representative royal residence, centre of social, cultural and political life. In 1775 Empress Maria Theresa ordered to pull down the city walls and gates and fill in the wide water ditch that surrounded the city. New opportunity to build big palaces arose. Instead of the ditch a promenade was build followed in 1776 by building of the City Theatre. Sacral buildings were constructed; the castle was renovated and enlarged. New streets were created and the number of inhabitants tippled. Estates Conciliums were held during this period and rich social and cultural life pulsated. New to Bratislava was the habit to build summer palaces with decorative gardens in the outskirts of the town.
Reign of the Emperor Joseph II meant for Bratislava end of this glorious period. In 1783 Bratislava was no longer the Capital of Hungary. On May 13, 1783 even the Holy Royal Crown guarded till that day at the Castle was moved over to Vienna. This act was followed by huge leave of the nobility from Bratislava. The town was influenced by Joseph’s reforms. Several religious orders were dissolved, their property was sold and monastery buildings turned into hospitals or schools. Emperor Joseph II. established General Seminary at the Bratislava castle, which had to be rebuilt to suit the education needs. With other important enlightenment scholars Anton Bernolák studied there.
Beginning of the 19th Century is marked by Napoleonic wars. In 1805 after the Battle of Austerlitz (now Slavkov) so called Treaty of Pressburg was signed in the Mirror Hall of the Primate’s Palace between France and Austria. The peace did not last long because in 1809 Napoleon damaged the town by cannonade from the right side of the Danube River. In 1811 Bratislava castle burned down due to slackness of Napoleonic garrison The castke was reconstructed again only in 1953.
Bratislava, science and art
In 18th century culture and music, science and technology flourished in Bratislava. 70 craft guilds were gathered in the town, first manufactures started to operate. Bratislava became economic centre of Hungary. Tram transportation in Bratislava is one of the oldest in Europe, trams started to operate sooner than in Vienna or Budapest. First attempt to fly a balloon in 1784 is also an important event. First note of lights in the city streets is in chronicles from 1434 and gas lamps were introduced in 1856. Regular post service operated since 1530 and the site of the post office is known since 1400.
Music and art flourished in Bratislava. Six years old Mozart had his first concert in Bratislava, Haydn was music director of the Esteházy family. In 1796 Beethoven visited the town for the first time and his Missa Solemis was presented in the St. Martin’s Dome. Franz List first came to Bratislava as nine years-old boy, and Bratislava patrons collected money for his studies. Liszt together with Rubinstein prepared benefit concert to support the construction of a memorial for J. N. Hummel, renowned compositor born in Bratislava.
