Slavník dynasty

The Slavniks/Slavníks or Slavnikids (Czech: Slavníkovci; German: Slawnikiden; Polish: Sławnikowice; Croatian: Slavnikovići) was a powerful dynasty in Bohemia during the 10th century. It governed the Zlicans (Zličané), one of the oldest Czech tribes. The center of the principality was the gord of Libice located at the confluence of the rivers Cidlina and Elbe. The Slavníks competed with the Přemyslids for control over Bohemia and eventually succumbed to them. Some scholars considered them of White Croats origin.

History

Generally, the vast majority of what is known about the Slavniks family is from the works by John Canaparius, Bruno of Querfurt, and Cosmas of Prague. The founder, as there is not known any other older personality of the dynasty, it is considered the prince (dux) Slavník (†981), from whom was lent the name to the whole family. According to Bruno of Querfurt, he was the grandson of the Saxon duke Henry I, most probably by the maternal line of the unknown Slavic woman with whom Otto I had the illegitimate son William. This connection explains the friendly relationship between Slavnik's son Vojtěch, Saint Adalbert of Prague, with Otto III, and the Otto's efforts (Congress of Gniezno) around St. Adalbert's canonization, and the installation of St. Adalbert's brother Radim Gaudentius as the first archbishop of Gniezno Cathedral.