Some observations on the social structure of Great Moravia

KALHOUS, David. Some observations on the social structure of Great Moravia. In Pavel Kouřil. The Cyril and Methodius Mission and Europe. 1150 Years Since the Arrival of the Thessaloniki Brothers in Great Moravia. Brno: Archeologický ústav, 2015, s. 40-47. ISBN 978-80-86023-51-9.

Základní údaje

• Originální název: Some observations on the social structure of Great Moravia
• Autoři: KALHOUS, David.
• Vydání: Brno, The Cyril and Methodius Mission and Europe. 1150 Years Since the Arrival of the Thessaloniki Brothers in Great Moravia, od s. 40-47, 8 s. 2015.
• Nakladatel: Archeologický ústav

Další údaje

• Originální jazyk: angličtina
• Typ výsledku: Kapitola resp. kapitoly v odborné knize
• Obor: 60101 History
• Utajení: není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství
• Forma vydání: tištěná verze "print"
• Organizační jednotka: Filozofická fakulta
• ISBN: 978-80-86023-51-9
• Klíčová slova anglicky: Great Moravia; 9th century; literary sources; archaeology; power; legitimacy; social status; social structure; elites
• Příznaky: Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Anotace

The present paper concentrates above all on problems associated with the ways we might understand the structure and dynamics of society in Great Moravia on the basis of available sources. The author’s main focus is on the problem of the origin of sources and their thematic focus. He sees some solution above all in the analysis of terminology set in a wider European context, in the interpretation of behavioural patterns, as recorded (or, more precisely, presented!) by literary sources, and in the consideration of archaeological finds from burial grounds and settlements situated out of central localities. The answers to these questions, however, are also equally important for understanding the dynamics of power and power-structures in what is now south and central Moravia and west Slovakia. The author supposes that ducal power was already relatively tightly bound with the Mojmirids, who were surrounded by a small group of “princes”. We do not know the source of their power but we can suppose a certain degree of sacred legitimisation of monarchic power and the power of the ruling dynasty. It may well be that this prominent group within Moravian society took part in a similar “game of offices” to that which we witness in the Frankish Empire, where the office of the Count formed an important bond between local elites and the central power. From weapons and personal ornaments found in rural burial grounds it can further be inferred that rural settlements also had their own elites, “free Moravians”, whose social status probably emerged from a combination of many different sources (personal charisma, inertia of social structures etc.). The sources of their loyalty towards the Prince are not known but we can probably consider it another designation of the foundations of ducal power.