| Bratislava in the Middle Ages |
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In 1436 King Sigismund granted the city a coat-of-arms deed with escutcheon rights in 1436. Bratislava is the only city in Europe to have had such a deed drawn up in two copies – both created by the painter Michal from the Vienna workshop. At the end of the 10th century the Kingdom of Hungary was formed and under the rule of Stephan I (1001-1038) the territory of today’s Bratislava was annexed to it. Bratislava became a key economic and administrative centre of the kingdom’s frontier. This also had its negative side in the shape of frequent onslaughts by enemy forces. Already in 1042 Bratislava was destroyed by German King Henry I. More unrest came to it between 1074 1077 in connection with the battle for the Hungarian throne. In the 13th century Bratislava was afforded royal privileges. An important period in the life of the city at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries was the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg. He reaffirmed the older donations and privileges for the city granted by the Arpads and Anjous and by granting Bratislava new privileges he raised the city to become a leading political and economic hub within the Kingdom of Hungary. At his decree from 1405 Bratislava was included among the most distinguished cities that since that time were referred to as free royal cities. In 1436 the city was awarded a coat-of-arms deed with right to use the symbol with tower argent and portcullis in city walls. The Official Website of the City of Bratislava |