Svätopluk
The well-known legend on Svätopluk´s twigs appeared in a fairy tale by the enlighted Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenet around 10th century.
It says that the powerful Great Moravian king Svätopluk asked his sons to come to him before his death. He gave a twig to each of them and asked them to break it. The young noblemen could easily do it. Then he asked to tie together three twigs and asked the son again to break them. This task appeared to be more difficult. Thus the king demonstrated how it is necessary to be united. That only the strength of united kingdom guarantees the country its power and prosperity.
The Great Moravia was divided among three brothers in 894 in spite of their father ´s warning. The country weakened by wars was in 906 destroyed.
It says that the powerful Great Moravian king Svätopluk asked his sons to come to him before his death. He gave a twig to each of them and asked them to break it. The young noblemen could easily do it. Then he asked to tie together three twigs and asked the son again to break them. This task appeared to be more difficult. Thus the king demonstrated how it is necessary to be united. That only the strength of united kingdom guarantees the country its power and prosperity.
The Great Moravia was divided among three brothers in 894 in spite of their father ´s warning. The country weakened by wars was in 906 destroyed.
