OSÍDLENIE ŽIARSKEJ KOTLINY V STREDOVEKU
Settlement of the Žiarska Kotlina Basin in the Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: The study is concerned with the development of settlement in the Žiarska Kotlina Basin, which is situated in the southern, middle part of the Hron Basin. The Žiarska Kotlina Basin is one of the oldest settled areas in Slovakia. It was already known in the Palaeolithic for its deposits of limno-quartzite. However, evidence of denser settlement comes only from the time of the Lusatian Cultural Complex. The Púchov Culture existed here in the Late Iron Age and Early Roman period. Germanic tribes came later in the Roman period and in the 6th century probably Slavs. The Žiarska Kotlina Basin was relatively densely settled in the 9th and 10th centuries, with settlements concentrated close to the river Hron. The first written mention of the territory dates from 1075. Svätý Beňadik (today Hronský Beňadik) Abbey gained properties here. We lack written mentions from the following, 12th century. However, the territory was not uninhabited. Svätý Kríž (today Žiar nad Hronom), Hliník and Voznica probably existed. The castle lordships of Revište and Šášov originated in the 13th century. We get our first evidence that the Archbishopric of Esztergom had property here. The majority of the settlements mentioned in written sources from the 14th and 15th centuries probably originated in the 13th century. The network of settlements still in existence today emerged at this time.

• Details
• Contents