1400th anniversary of the establishment of Samo’s Empire

€100 gold collector euro coin

Tensions between Slavs and Avars within the Avar Khaganate culminated in a major uprising in 623. The resulting rapid movement of insurgent Slavic tribes had a transformative effect on central Europe and the northern Balkans. With conflict came an arms trade that attracted a large merchant caravan led by Samo, a Frank. He came to the heart of the Slavic revolt, joining with the Slavs and distinguishing himself in battle against the Avars. The Slavic principalities that had emerged around the middle Danube joined together to form a larger polity and needed a ruler. The able foreigner Samo was well cut out for the role. Samo’s Empire stretched across present-day Moravia, Slovakia and Lower Austria. Its allies were the Bohemians and, from 631, the Polabian Serbs. Not only were Samo’s Slavs victorious over the Avars, they also defeated a large Frankish army at the Battle of Wogastisburg in 631. Samo reigned for 35 years, from 623 to 658.