The Great Moravian Rulers - a set of four stamps, placed on the lower part of a presentation sheet. They picture portraits of important Great Moravian rulers (from the beginning of 9th century) - Pribina, Rastislav, Koceľ, Svätopluk. These Great Moravian rulers were from the Mojmír's dynasty and they founded the original west-Slavic state, extended the territorial boundaries, and cultural expansion. They are pictured with the Great Moravian map at its greatest times. The map was designed based on the findings of the academician Ján Dekan, who has also included a shield, depicting a falconer, which is a reproduction of an archeological find.
Rastislav (around 820 -870) - was the Great Moravian Prince from 846 -870. He inherited the principality from his uncle Mojmír I and defended Great Moravia against attack from the Franks. Based on Rastislav's invitation, the Byzantine emperor Michal III sent a mission of the two Thessalonian brothers, Constantine-Cyril and Method, in 863 to spread Christianity throughout Great Moravia in the local language. They translated the Bible and created Slavonic liturgy, thus creating the basis of the Slavonic and Slovak languages. In 870 Rastislav was betrayed, by Svätopluk I, and captured by the feudal lords of the East-Frankish Kingdom, who gave him a life sentence in Regensburg, having blinded him. Under Rastislav's rule, Great Moravia was free from political influence of the Kingdom of the Franks and having gained its independence, greatly expanded its borders.
Stamp: An imaginary portrait of Rastislav, the Thessalonian brothers with the Holy Writ, a letter from the Glagolitic
alphabet - the symbol of God and the Holy Trinity.
FDC: Devín castle, having survived attacks in 869, silver button encrusted with blue glass, bronze medal (Devínska Nová Ves).
Cancellation: Silver earring, 9th century, Nitra.
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