The first Slavs arrived in the Czech lands in the 5th and 6th centuries. Primarily a tribal society, they were later replaced by newly founded princedoms, who unified and created a new state, Great Moravia, in the 9th century. The establishment of Great Moravia marked the first largely Slavic state in Central Europe.

Around 863, Methodius and Constantine arrived from Byzantium by request of King Ratislav (846-870), introducing Slavic liturgy to Great Moravia. With the adoption of Slavic liturgy came Slavic chant, the predominant musical idiom in Great Moravia — until the establishment of Christianity during the reign of Svatopluk I (870-894). Soon, the presence of Slavic liturgy dwindled in favor of Latin liturgy, and as a result, Gregorian chant supplanted Slavic chant in the Czech lands, distributed through liturgical books. By 893, Great Moravia annexed neighboring Bohemia, and its duke, Prince Bořivoj, was baptized, further solidifying Christianity’s presence.

Despite seeming prosperity, the death of Svatopluk I in 894 marked the beginning of the end for the young state. Political conflict and separatist sentiments plagued Great Moravia, and in the the year following Svatopluk’s death, Bohemia seceded and joined the Kingdom of Eastern Franks.

Great Moravia fell ca. 906.

But all was not lost. Though the fall of Great Moravia was indeed a turning point in Czech history, it marks the beginning of the first dynastic ruling family, the Přemyslids, and the establishment of the Kingdom of Bohemia.