Chronica Boemorum

With Moravia trampled under the hooves of the Magyar steppe warriors and Frankish Empire struggling to pull itself together after yet another succession dispute, the time has come for up until then insignificant tribe settled in the middle of the Bohemian Basin to take the reins of the fate of the Czech lands.

From the legendary beginnings through the first historical records, we follow the rise of the Czech tribe and their ruling Přemyslid dynasty of princes on their quest to unite the neighboring tribes and form a successor state to the late Great Moravia.

We talk about prince Bořivoj, who was the first to accept baptism and bring Christianity to be the universal religion of his land and his wife Ludmila, who became the first Slavic woman to achieve sainthood; their grandsons (Saint) Václav, whose reputation of piety and wisdom would long outlive him, and Boleslav the Cruel, who ascended the throne through murder, only to repent and start a wave of reforms which would become the cornerstone of the first true Czech state. We also follow the foundation of the first Czech bishopric and the fate of its second bishop Vojtěch.

Over the course of the episode we mention the first four patron saints of the Czech lands - Vitus, Ludmila, Václav and Vojtěch, and finally we find out, what the Czechs sing instead of the English carol "Good King Wenceslaus" and why.

The Dark Ages in Europe have ended, and there is a new Roman Emperor in the West; one who has a mutually beneficial understanding with the Pope, and territorial designs on the Czech lands.

Under this pressure from the Franks, a dynasty of Moravian princes rises to resist, and consolidates the Slavs in the Czech lands into the first true slavic state - Great Moravia.

In this episode, we describe how they laid the foundations of Czech statehood, introduced Christianity to the Slavs at large, and forged a uniquely Moravian culture on par with any in Europe.

Introducing the Slavs - new inhabitants of the Czech lands, who are here to stay. Legends, fragmentary historical records and archaeology combine to piece together a story of this new ethnic. A society defined by common tongue, tribal in organization and pagan in religion; the Slavs will be joined in rebellion against Avars under a Frankish merchant Sámo, who will become the first person to unite the tribes, not just for a war, but in peace, until his death.

Introducing the Czech lands and their pre-history. After a brief geographical survey, we will follow the Mammoth Hunters who set up residence there. Their descendants will learn agriculture, pottery and metalworking, eventually mastering the production of iron. These Celtic ironsmiths will give the land its name (in English, anyway) before being replaced by martial-minded Germans, who will keep the Romans out until they themselves vacate these lands to set up residence in former Roman territory.

For interested non-Czech-speaking listeners, we have some further reading on English Wikipedia:

• Geography of the Czech Republic
• Věstonická Venuše
• Předmostí u Přerova
• La Téne culture
• Havránok oppidum
• Hero of Mšecké Žehrovice
• Roman fortress in Mušov
• Duhovky

Wherein we make an effort to introduce our podcast to the listeners, describing the motives which led to its creation as well as a little bit more about what its content will be.