FROM OLD AND RECENT HISTORY OF

ZVOLENSKA SLATINA

Zvolenska Slatina belongs to the largest and historically most important small towns in Zvolen region. It is situated 8 km east of Zvolen, a town of 40000 inhabitants in center of Slovakia. The town got its name from Slavic name of river Slatina that runs through it and in Zvolen under Pusty castle  flows into river Hron.

Last year it celebrated its 665th anniversary of the first written record, 140 years from the birth or writer Terezia Vansova at the Luthereans rectory (author of novels Undercastle Orphan and Curse), 125 years from the birth of music composer Mikulas Moyzes in Catholic school and 200 years from the incorporation of the bryndza (sheep cheese) factory of Peter Molec known for its products even now.

Oldest settlement is from Younger Bronze Age (1200-1000 years BC) and this is also documented by findings of radiance burial place of people of the Luzica culture.

First written mention of the settlement comes from Holy Father's registers in years 1332-37. Already at this time there was a church of Patronage of the Holy Cross with rectory and priest Peter from Santa Crux de Solio (Zvolen's Saint Cross). The town is mentioned in 14th century in Latin as Zlatina Soliensis, it belonged to the Royal Zvolen's holdings with center at Zvolen's castle (today's Pusty Hrad). People were involved in farming, raising cattle and guarding King's forests and fishponds. At the end of 14th century 4 Km to the east, Viglas castle was build as hunting and resting place for the Hungarian King Ludovit I Anjou and Slatina became part of the Viglas castle holdings. In 16th century it is mentioned as a town-oppidun and it is important toll center and market place at the business route from Novohrad (Lucenec) to Zvolen. The expansion of town was interrupted by the Turkish invasions. For aproximately 150 years the Turks were trying to win over the area of Slatina and the Viglas castle in order to get to rich mining towns as Kremnica, Bystrica and Stiavnica. The development of town at the end of feudal era is closely connected with Esterhazy family, who was the owner of the Viglas holdings at that time. In 19th century they elected Slatina to be their seat for the administrator of their properties and thus influenced economic and social life of the town. In 1848-1932 Slatina, known at that time Velka (Large and in Hungarian Nagy Slatina) was also the seat of Sluznov district that also included nearby Detva. Slatina was until the half of the 16th century Lutheran town, but only after 1785 (tolerance patent of Jozef II) could build their Lutheran Church, rectory, and school. Rectory alone became during the 19th century center of national intellectual life of Slovaks. Lutheran priest Samuel Medvecky who was often visited by Jan Francisci, Andrej Sladkovic and August Stanislav Skultety, lived here in years 1835-76. His Children were born here, also previously mentioned Terezia Vansova nee Medvecka and a member of Slovak National Party, lawyer and national economist Samuel Stefan Medvecky.

Jan Alexander Fabry religious writer and nationalist was Lutheran priest here in 1876-1908. After his death people of Slatina have shown their unhappiness with installation of pro-Hungarian priest and only after two years of legal battles with the Hungarian ruling authority they succeeded with installation of nationalist priest Michal Bazlik. Actively and pro nationalistic were also the Roman Catholic priest and poet working in Slatina in 1907-1928, Ján Dateľ. Jan Bahyl, inventor of horizontal propeller that formed the foundation of helicopter belongs to the important residents of Slatina in last century. The people of Slatina welcomed the events of 1918. Through the personality of Mayor Koloman Petko, they approved the Declaration of the Slovak Nation, formed National Assembly and national Guards. The whole time of the First republic Slatina, and from 1927 again called Zvolenska Slatina kept its town character. In 1924 they established townsmen school, they activated farm cooperatives linking up with milk, nourishment and credit cooperatives from the beginning of the century.

Expanding was also rich association and cultural activity through Matica Slovenska, Zivena association, Amateur Theater, local choir, and voluntary fire department.

Slatina folklore remained very much alive until now in songs, dance, clothing, and embroidery and in instruments of whistle and fujara maker Martin Luptak-Sanitrar, bag piper Jan Hudan and whistler Jan Vyboch.

To the most important living personalities of Zvolenska Slatina belong their natives: children writer Maria Durickova, Academic sculptor Jan Kulich, composer Vojtech Tatos, play-writerStefan M. Sokol, academic Ondrej Pavlik, ethnographer Bozena Filova-Barabasovz and the best primas violin player Rinaldo Olah. The town and its people contributed really on large scale to the history and culture of the Slovak Nation.

Lubica Milanova
Forestry Museum
96001 Zvolen
Slovakia

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Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 6, No. 3, Fall 1998
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1998 
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.