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Bratislava — historically Pozsony and Pressburg (see also other names) — is the capital of the Slovak Republic and, with a population of about 429,000, also the country's largest city.[1] Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two countries.[2] It and Vienna are also two of Europe's closest national capitals, at less than 60 kilometres (37 mi) apart.

Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic centre of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak president, the parliament, and the executive branch of the government. It is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important cultural and educational institutions.[3] Many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions are also headquartered in it.

The history of the city, long known by the German name Pressburg and by the Hungarian Pozsony, has been strongly influenced by people of different nations, namely by Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews and Slovaks.[4] The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary under the Habsburg Monarchy[5] from 1536 to 1783, and has been home to many Slovak, Hungarian and German historical figures

The first known permanent settlement of the area began with the Linear Pottery Culture, around 5000 BC in the Neolithic era. About 200 BC, the Celtic Boii tribe founded the first significant settlement, a fortified town known as an oppidum, and also established a mint which produced silver coins known as biatecs.[7] The area fell under Roman influence from the first to the fourth century AD and formed part of the Limes Romanus, a border defence system.[8] The Romans introduced grape growing to the area and began a tradition of winemaking, which survives to the present.[9]

The Slavs arrived between the 5th and 6th centuries during the Migration Period.[10] As a response to onslaughts by Avars, the local Slavic tribes rebelled and established Samo's Empire (623–658), the first known Slavic political entity. In the 9th century, the castles at Bratislava (Brezalauspurc) and Devín (Dowina) were important centres of the Slavic states the Principality of Nitra and Great Moravia.[11] On the other hand, the identification of the two castles as fortresses built in Great Moravia has been under debate based on linguistic arguments and because of the absence of convincing archaeologic evidence.[12][13] The first written reference to the city dates to 907 and is related to a battle during which a Bavarian army was defeated by the Hungarians[12] and which is connected to the fall of Great Moravia under the attacks of the Hungarians.[14]


In the 10th century, the territory of Pressburg (what would later become Pozsony county) became part of Hungary (called "the Kingdom of Hungary" from 1000) and became a key economic and administrative centre on the kingdom's frontier.[15] This strategic position destined the city to be the site of frequent attacks and battles, but also brought it economic development and high political status. It was granted its first known town privileges in 1291 by the Hungarian King Andrew III,[16] and was declared a free royal town in 1405 by King Sigismund of Luxemburg, who also entitled the town to use its own coat of arms in 1436.[17]

The Kingdom of Hungary was defeated by the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Mohács in 1526. Thereafter the Turks besieged and damaged Pozsony but failed to conquer it.[18] Owing to Ottoman advances into Hungarian territory, the city was designated the new capital of Hungary in 1536, becoming part of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy and marking the beginning of a new era. The city became a coronation town and the seat of kings, archbishops (1543), the nobility and all major organisations and offices. Between 1536 and 1830, eleven kings and queens were crowned at St. Martin's Cathedral.[19] Nevertheless, the 17th century was marked by anti-Habsburg uprisings, fighting with the Turks, floods, plagues and other disasters.[20]


Pozsony flourished during the 18th century reign of Maria Theresa of Austria,[21] becoming the largest and most important town in the territory of present-day Slovakia and Hungary.[22] The population tripled; many new palaces,[21] monasteries, mansions, and streets were built, and the city was the centre of social and cultural life of the region.[23] However, the city started to lose its importance under the reign of Maria Theresa's son Joseph II,[21] especially when the crown jewels were taken to Vienna in 1783 in an attempt to strengthen the union between Austria and Hungary. Many central offices subsequently moved to Buda, followed by a large segment of the nobility.[24] The first newspapers in Hungarian and Slovak were published here, resp. Magyar hírmondó in 1780, and Presspurske Nowiny in 1783.[25] In the course of the 18th century, the city became a centre for the Slovak national movement.