Why is Krapina Called “the Cradle of Slavic Peoples”?

Why is Krapina called “The cradle of Slavic peoples”?

Krapina, city in northwest Croatia is a central place of Krapinsko – zagorska county. It is a very important historical place, too.

First we have to mention the archeological finding site of Krapina Neanderthals in hill Hušnjakovo in west part of Krapina  one of the world’s most important archeological finding site.

Many noble families had their manors in Krapina (for example, the noble family Keglević) and in 17′th century religious order franjevci came to Krapina (they built the church of St’ Catherine and the convict there).

Also, Ljudevit Gaj, the ideological lider of Croatian National revival was born in Krapina.

Krapina is often called „the cradle of Slavic peoples“ . The answer why is it so, will give us the legend of three brothers Čeh, Leh and Meh and their sister Vilina.

At the time of Roman Empire, in Croatia lived slavic tribe, their count was Hrvat.

He had three sons, Čeh, Leh and Meh and  daughter Vilina. They inherited him at the throne.

The brothers, Čeh, Leh and Meh  decided to dethrone the Roman’s reigm and stop it’s tyrany so they started to prepare rebellion, but their sister Vilina, who was in love with a Roman soldier told him all about their plans.

Brothers killed the Roman soldier and Vilina escaped in a cave near Krapina.

There she was accepted by fairies and gave birth to a child.

When the brothers find out where she was they captured her, brought her to a  city tower and walled up there.

The child, who was left alone in the cave was killed by a bullock.

The Romans decided to revenge for the murder of their soldier and defeat the rebelled people.

The brothers couldn’t counter fight them so they left to the north and there they founded three states, Čeh Cehoslovakia, Leh Poland and Meh Russia.

That’s how, according to the legend, Krapina became  “the cradle of Slavic peoples“.