Olomouc

===Middle Ages===
As early as the 7th century, a [[Gord (archaeology)|gord]] of the early [[Slavs]] developed in the present-day quarter of Povel. It was probably an administrative centre of a larger unit. Povel is considered one of the three most important [[Moravia]]n localities of the early Middle Ages. In the early 9th century, the gord was conquered and completely disappeared.<ref>{{cite web |title=Z historie olomouckých čtvrtí: Povel|url=https://www.hanackyvecernik.cz/spolecnost/zajimavosti/z-historie-olomouckych-ctvrti-povel|publisher=Hanácký večerník|language=cs|date=2020-06-27|access-date=2024-01-02}}</ref>

A new centre, where the Great Moravian governor resided, developed at the [[Gord (archaeology)|gord]] at Předhradí, a quarter of the inner city (the eastern, smaller part of the medieval centre). This settlement survived the defeat of the Great Moravia (c. 907) and gradually became the capital of the province of Moravia.

Around 981–990, the Polish Duke [[Mieszko I]] took the [[Moravian Gate]] and Olomouc as an important place at the intersection of trade routes. Olomouc probably was mentioned in the [[Dagome iudex]] document ({{circa|991}}) as ''Alemura''. All of Moravia was part of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1031)|Poland]] between 1003 and 1031 during the reign of [[Bolesław I the Brave]] and partly [[Mieszko II Lambert]]. The first certain mention of the city dates back to 1017. Moravia was under Bohemian rule since 1031 (according to some Czech historians, since 1019 or 1021).

The [[bishopric of Olomouc]] was founded in 1063. It was possibly re-founded because there are some unclear references to bishops of Moravia in the 10th century—if they were not only missionary bishops, but representatives of some remains of regular church organization, then it is very likely that these bishops had their seat in Olomouc. Centuries later in 1777, it was raised to the rank of an [[archbishop]]ric. The bishopric was moved from the church of St. Peter (since destroyed) to the church of [[Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia|Saint Wenceslaus]] in 1141 (the date is still disputed, other suggestions are 1131, 1134) under bishop [[Jindřich Zdík]]. The bishop's palace was built in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] architectural style. The bishopric acquired large tracts of land, especially in northern Moravia, and was one of the richest in the area.

Olomouc became one of the most important settlements in Moravia and a seat of the [[Přemyslid]] government and one of the ''[[appanage]]'' princes. In 1306 King [[Wenceslas III]] stopped here on his way to Poland. He was going to fight [[Władysław I the Elbow-high]] to claim his rights to the Polish crown and was assassinated.<ref>{{cite EB9 |wstitle = Olmütz |volume= 17 |page= 764; see lines 4 and 5 |quote= The most prominent church is the cathedral, a Gothic building of the 14th century, containing the tomb of King Wenceslaus III., who was murdered here in 1306.}}</ref> With his death, the whole Přemyslid dynasty died out.

The city was officially founded in the mid-13th century and became one of the most important trade and power centres in the region. In the Middle Ages, it was the biggest town in Moravia and competed with [[Brno]] for the position of capital. Olomouc finally lost after the [[Swedish Empire|Swedes]] took the city and held it for eight years (1642–1650).

In 1235, the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]] launched an [[Mongol invasion of Europe|invasion of Europe]]. After the [[Battle of Legnica]] in Poland, the Mongols carried their raids into Moravia, but were defensively defeated at the fortified town of Olomouc.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grousset |first1=René |title=The Empire of the Steppes |date=1970 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-1304-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/empireofsteppes00grou/page/266 266] |url=https://archive.org/details/empireofsteppes00grou|url-access=registration}}</ref> The Mongols subsequently [[First Mongol invasion of Hungary|invaded and defeated Hungary]].<ref>Jan Dugosz, Maurice Michael (1997) ''The Annals of Jan Dlugosz'', IM Publications, {{ISBN|1-901019-00-4}}</ref>

In 1454 the city expelled its Jewish population as part of a wave of anti-Semitism, also seen in Spain and [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]]. The second half of the 15th century is considered the start of Olomouc's golden age. It hosted several royal meetings, and [[Matthias Corvinus]] was elected here as King of [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] (in fact anti-king) by the estates in 1469. In 1479 two kings of Bohemia ([[Vladislaus II of Hungary and Bohemia|Vladislaus II]] and Matthias Corvinus) met here and concluded an agreement ([[Peace of Olomouc]] of 1479) for splitting the country.