After a beautiful day in Bratislava, it’s time to go home. The Twin City Liner has just docked on the banks of the Danube to take us back to Vienna.
We have gathered a lot of impressions this day. Of course, we are also interested in the historical background of the region.
The first settlements were founded around 5500 B.C. The Celts settled in the area in the 5th century B.C. The Romans then settled south of the Danube, the Germanic tribes north of the Danube, followed by the Quadi and finally the Slavs. At the end of the 8th century, the castles of Thebes and Bratislava belonged to the Principality of Nitra. They were followed by Great Moravia, the Carolingian Ostmark, and the Magyars. After Bratislava fell to Bavaria, it became part of Hungary through the marriage of Gisela of Bavaria to the Hungarian King Stephen I. Poland and Hungary alternated again. Other powers, such as the Eastern Franks and the Bohemians, attacked repeatedly. After the victorious Battle of the Lechfeld against the Hungarians in 955, the German settlement of the Pressburg region began until the Mongols devastated the country and brought about their defeat in 1241. Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg elevated Bratislava to a royal free city in 1405.
In 1526, part of Hungary was ceded to the Ottomans, while the other part went to the Habsburgs, who now ruled over the rest of Hungary. Pressburg became the capital of Hungary. The following years were marked by plague epidemics, battles with the Ottomans, and uprisings against the Reformation and the Habsburgs. 1686, all of Hungary fell to the Habsburgs after the Second Siege of Vienna.
Under Empress Maria Theresa, the situation changed, and Pressburg became the most important city in Hungary and grew rapidly. Its architecture and cultural life were strongly influenced by the Habsburgs. After the Hungarian Crown Jewels were transferred to Vienna, Bratislava lost much of its importance.
Numerous rebellions, such as the Kuruc Uprising, reflected the discontent of the poor nobility and rural population. Religious motives such as missionary work and secularization also played a role.
After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the country experienced a significant economic upswing. This did not eliminate the nationality conflicts that led to the breakup of Hungary after World War I. The Democratic Republic of Hungary was founded in 1918.
After World War I, Bratislava was annexed by the Allies to Czechoslovakia. Further unrest followed. During the Second World War, there were numerous air raids by the Americans and Soviets. After the end of National Socialism, Slovakia was reincorporated into Czechoslovakia. Since January 1, 1993, Bratislava has been the capital of independent Slovakia. The country is now experiencing an economic upswing.
We return to the Twin City Liner and have a pleasant trip to Vienna. The light conditions for filming are better than on the outward journey. We arrive in Vienna in the dark.
There is a lively party atmosphere on the Gisela-Werbzirk-Promenade, but we don’t join in because of the many impressions of the day, so we go straight to the hotel.