Prominent people connected to Nitra

Cyril and Methodius


The stamp issued 5 July 2000 on the occasion of the feast of sts. Cyril and Methodius which took place in Nitra - Calvary.


Glagolitic alphabet created by St. Cyril

Pribina - (800? - 860/861) The first ever known Slavic ruler - duke coming from Slovakia. He seated in Nitra and built the first church in Slovakia. - see History. After he was forced to flee from Nitra, he was baptised in Traismauer - today´s Austria. Then he shortly stayed at Bulgars and Croatians. In 840 king Louis The German granted to Pribina a part of his territory called Pannonia. Pribina ruled as a duke here and built a dosen new churches.

Koceľ - (? - 876) - Pribina´s son, born in Nitra. After Pribina´s death he ruled in Pannonia principality. He was zealous supporter spreading Slavic liturgy.

Svätopluk - (? - 894) - When Rastislao ruled over Great Moravia he was apanage duke in Nitra, in chronicles regnum Zuentibaldi. Later he became king of the whole GM and during his reign was GM of the largest territory.

sts. Cyril a Methodius - see History They are co-patrons of Europe along with St. Benedict of Nursia. A part of the relics of St. Cyril are kept in Nitra castle.

st. Gorazd - born close to Nitra in Močenok. He was a Great moravian priest and Methodius appointed him to be successor at teaching young clergymen. Later he was expelled from GM with his disciples and his next steps are not known.

st. Svorad-Andrej - (? - 1032) - a hermit, known also as St. Andrew Zoerard. Svorad might come from Liptov (a northern part of Slovakia) in benedictine monastery in Zobor and adopted name Andrej. He became a hermit living near Zobore monastery. There is a small cave at the foot of Zobor hill above former monastery which is called Svorad´s cave. The famous hermit might live here.

st. Benedikt - (? - 1043) - a monk of Zobor monastery and follower of Svorad. Svorad and Benedikt were canonized in 1083 as the first saints of Hungarian kingdom during the reign of King Ladislao I.

Maurus (1001 - 1070) - born probably in Nitra. He was abbot in Pannonhalma monastery and in 1042 became bishop in Pécs. He is the author of the first hungarian legend - Legend of Svorad and Benedikt.

In time of creating Hungarian kingdom Nitra turned to be an administrative center of Nitra zhupa (county) and first men at the head between 1029 - 1111 were:
Bukven of house of Poznan, Poznan was a famous Slovak family
Bača
Una
Mojžiš

Zachariáš Mošóci - Mošovský - Bishop in Nitra in 1582 - 1587. He was one of the most educated people of his era. He is the author, along with Pécs bishop Mikuláš Telegdy, of Hungarian body of laws, published in 1584.

Ján Telegdy - eminent Bishop in Nitra (1611 - 1644) in 17th century . Since Bishops in the previous era applied for the townsfolk new duties and charges, took care of confirming royal privileges to the town at Emperor Ferdinand II and regulated relations between burghers and Bishopric. He also gave massive finances into building. In those years Bishop´s Palace, Middle Church with spire was built. Also he built a new church with a monastery for Franciscans in 1630.

Juraj Pohronec Selepčéni - (1595 - 1685), being born in Slepčany close to Nitra. Bishop and zhupan of Nitra and Hungarian Chancelor (1644 - 1666). In 1666 he became Archbishop of Esztergom. He ranked among the most prominent people in then Hungary.

Alexander Rudnaj - (1760 - 1831), studied in Nitra, too. He was archbishop in Esztergom (1819-31). The foundation stone of the present building in Esztergom was laid by Alexander Rudnay. He always pointed out he is Slovak, supported publishing Slovak books and was a prominent member of Slovak Society of Scholars (see below).

Since the half of 18. century many Slovak intellectuals had worked in Nitra and in 1792 the third branch of Slovenské učené tovarišstvo (Slovak Society of Scholars) came into existence in Nitra. They supported slovak national, cultural and economic revival and propagated slovak literature. Head of Society was Anton Bernolak. At the turn of 18. and 19. centuries worked for Society about 40 members. Some of them were:
Anton Ďateľ, Jozef Nejedlý, Alexander Alagovič, bishop František Hábel, later bishops František Fuchs, Jozef Vurum, officer Martin Bielik etc.

F. A. Lang - pharmacist in Nitra in 1832 - 1852. For his scientific research and publications was a member of many professional associations abroad. In 1848 he launched issuing of the first pharmaceutical periodical in Hungarian Kingdom called Lekárnické listy - Letters on Pharmacy.

Dr. Ľudovít Okánik - the first Nitra zhupan after Czechoslovakia came into existence, being appointed in 1919 by Minister dr. Vavro Šrobár.

Dr. Ján Jesenský - last Nitra zhupan, 1923 - 1928, famous Slovak poet. In 1928 zhupa administrative system was abolished.

Karol Cobori - a long-time mayor of Nitra between WWI and WWII

Edmund Massanyi - (1907 - 1966), a famous painter born and worked in Nitra. He studied in Prague, Vienna and Munich. He created a great deal of fresco painting in the churches over Slovakia and worked as an illustrator and portraitist as well.

Julius Bartfay - (1888 - 1979), great sculptor having lived in Nitra. Founder of Slovak sculptor.

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