Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

22  INTRODUCING PR A GUE

Prague Under the Přemyslids

Early Celtic tribes, from 500 BC, were the first inhabitants of
the area around the Vltava valley. The Germanic Marcomans
arrived in 9–6 BC, and gradually the Celts left. The first Slavic
tribes came to Bohemia in about 500 AD. Struggles for
supremacy led to the emergence of a ruling dynasty, the
Přemyslids, around 800 AD. They built two fortified
settlements: the first at Prague Castle (see pp96–111), the Extent of the City
second at Vyšehrad, a rocky headland on the right bank of 1000 AD Today
the Vltava (see pp180–81). These remained the seats of Czech
princes for hundreds of years. One prince crucial to the Boleslav’s henchman
emerging Czech State was the pious Wenceslas. He enjoyed raises his sword to
only a brief reign but left an important legacy in the founding strike the fatal blow.
of St Vitus’s rotunda (see pp102–5).

St Cyril and St Methodius Second assassin
Originally Greeks from Salonica, grapples with
these two brothers brought the Prince’s
Christianity to Great Moravia companion.
in about 863. They baptized
early Přemyslid, Bořivoj, and
his wife Ludmila, grandmother
of St Wenceslas.

Early Coin
Silver coins like this
denar were minted
in the royal mint of Wild Boar Figurine
Vyšehrad during Celtic tribes made small
Boleslav II’s reign talismans of the wild animals
from 972–99. that they hunted for food in the
forested areas around Prague.

6th century AD Slavs settle 623–658 Bohemia is part of an empire
alongside Germanic tribes formed by Frankish merchant, Samo
in Bohemia
600 AD 700

8th century Tribe of Czechs
500 BC Celts in settle in central Bohemia
Bohemia. Joined by
Germanic Marcomans Bronze head of Vyšehrad acropolis – first Czech
in 1st century AD a Celtic goddess settlement on the right bank of the Vltava

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