Bratislava

Pozsony (Bratislava) – The Capital of Slovakia

Bratislava (Hungarian: Pozsony; until 1919 Slovak: Prešporok; German: Pressburg or archaic Preßburg; Latin: Posonium) is the capital and largest city of Slovakia. It is located in the southwestern corner of the country, near the borders with Austria and Hungary, at the foot of the Little Carpathians, spanning both banks of the Danube River as well as the left bank of the Morava River.

Bratislava is unique among European capitals in that it borders two sovereign countries – Austria and Hungary. Although it is one of Europe’s smallest capitals in terms of area and population, its political, economic, and cultural importance far exceeds its size.

Population

As of 2020, the city had an official population of approximately 441,000, but including its suburban and metropolitan areas, the actual population exceeds 650,000.

Historical Overview

Bratislava has a rich and diverse history, shaped by many nations and cultures, including Bulgarians, Czechs, Croats, Hungarians, Germans, Austrians, Serbs, Slovaks, and Jews.

• The city’s first written mention dates to the year 907, in connection with the Battle of Pressburg, which marked the end of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin.
• Between 1536 and 1783, Bratislava served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, its coronation city, and legislative center.
• A total of 11 Hungarian kings and 8 queens were crowned in the St. Martin’s Cathedral.
• From the 17th century through the Hungarian Reform Era, most Hungarian Diets (parliamentary sessions) were held here.
• The city was home to many prominent Hungarian, German, and Slovak historical figures.

Modern Role

Today, Bratislava is the political, economic, and cultural center of Slovakia.

• It is home to the President of the Republic, the National Council (parliament), and the seat of the Slovak government.
• The city hosts numerous universities, museums, theaters, galleries, and other cultural and educational institutions.
• A large number of Slovakia’s major corporations, banks, and institutions have their headquarters in Bratislava.

The Name of the City – Origins and Variations

Hungarian Name: Pozsony

The Hungarian name Pozsony derives from the old Hungarian personal name Poson, likely named after the first castellan (várispán) of the local fortress.

• The origin of the name Poson is uncertain and could be linked to a Czech (Pos) or German (Poscho) name.
• Until the late 18th century, the Hungarian form was typically Posony, which gradually evolved into Pozsony by the early 19th century.

Slovak Name: Bratislava

The city's historical Slovak name was Prešporok, derived from the German name Pressburg.

• The names Braslavespruch or Brezalauspruch, found in early medieval documents (year 907), have been associated with Bratislava, though this identification is highly debated.
• These names may originate from the Slavic personal name Braslav and the German word Burg (meaning “castle”), forming the basis for Pressburg.

However, Braslav was a Slavic prince of Lower Pannonia, a vassal of the East Frankish Kingdom from 892 to 907, and there is no historical evidence linking his activities to the territory of modern Bratislava. He ruled from Blatnohrad (Mosaburg), not from Pressburg. The idea that the 907 battle took place near Bratislava stems from a misinterpretation by 16th-century Bavarian historian Aventinus, who confused it with another battle from the year 900, which is accurately described in the Annals of Fulda.

The Name "Bratislava"

The modern Slovak name "Bratislava" was coined in 1837 by Slovak historian and archaeologist Pavel Jozef Šafárik, who mistakenly believed that the city’s name derived from Bratislav (a Slavic personal name), rather than Braslav.

This newly invented name eventually replaced Prešporok in official Slovak usage after the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1919.