Presentation by Alexandra Bitusikova, Matej Bel University Advanced Brainstorm Carrefour (ABC): ‘Smart People in Smart Cities’ Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia (August, 2016)

1. Matej Bel -
Magnum Decus Hungariae
Alexandra Bitušíková
30 August 2016

3. From the history of Slovakia
• The Slovak Republic established on 1 January 1993 after the velvet split of
Czechoslovakia
• What was before?
• The Celts – first population in the territory of Slovakia (written docs – 400
BC), followed by the Romans and Germanic tribes
• New migrations after 4th century AC: the Huns and the Slavs (a number of
Slavic tribes with their languages and dialects)
• 833-907 – Great Moravia (the first –Western- Slavic state)
• 863 - Byzantine Christian missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius came to
Great Moravia - they developed the first Slavic alphabet and translated the
Gospel into the Old Church Slavonic language – a MILESTONE
• 10th century – Hungarian tribes (Magyars) invaded the Pannonian basin
• The territory of Slovakia – progressively integrated into the developing
Kingdom of Hungary (from the 10th to 20th century)

6. Matej Bel - Funtík: the Journey from
Očová to the Emperor´s Court
• Matej Bel – Funtík: born in 1684 in a rural family
(father – peasant and butcher) in Očová (a village 15
km from Banska Bystrica-BB)
• Simple family conditions and poor health did not
promise great future for Matej
• He studied in several Slovak cities and graduated first
from a Protestant Lyceum in BB
• The Protestant (Lutheran) Church noticed Matej´s
intellectual abilities and sent him to study philosophy
and theology in Halle. In addition to these subjects,
Matej studied also sciences (physics, chemistry) and
languages (Latin, Hebrew, Greek).

7. The Halle period
• Because of good references, Matej became a
protege of August Herman Francke, a great
intellectual, representative of pietism – a
movement in Protestant church - who was
interested in restoration of church, reform of
nation, evangelisation of the world, social
interest in others. He was a founder of many
orphanages. Matej followed these ideas and
also became teacher of Francke´s son.

8. The Banská Bystrica period
(1708-1714)
• After studies in Halle, in 1708 Matej Bel returned to Banská Bystrica
and became the Vice-Principle and soon the Principle of the Lyceum
(Grammar School) and the key priest (he preached in Slovak and in
German).
• In BB, Matej married Zuzana Hermanová (8 children, 3 died young)
• He taught: theology, philosophy, languages (8 languages), physics,
botany, zoology, geography, history, meteorology, maths, music,
practical skills) – thanks to Bel, the BB Protestant Lyceum became
one of the best schools in the Kingdon of Hungary.
• However, Bel had to face many enemies and attacks from the side
of jesuits and anti-pietists, and for these reasons he accepted the
invitation to become Rector of the Protestant Lyceum in Bratislava
(1714).

9. The Bratislava period (1714-1749)
• During this period, Bel contributed to
modernisation of pedagogy (new principles of
teaching methods and discipline) – he
published a number of textbooks in pedagogy,
rhetorics, geography, German grammar, Latin
grammar, Hungarian grammar etc.).
• In Bratislava, Bel reached top of his scientific
career. Bratislava was then a multicultural city
with a lot resources to offer.

10. Bel and science
• Since 1722, Bel publishes a scientific newspaper
Nova Posoniensia, the first regular newspaper in
the kingdom. Bel published findings of his
biological and philological research there in line
with the latest European trends (scientific reports
of all kinds, info about political developments).
• Bel´s main goal was a project of national
geography of the Kingdom of Hungary. The most
important work: Notitia Hungariae novae
historico-geographica – 4 volumes in 1734 –
1742.

11. Notitia
• The publication contains very detailed information about
history, geography, demography, ethnography, economy,
culture etc. in 10 districts (commitatus) of the Slovak part
of the Kingdom of Hungary (info about towns and cities,
noble families, institutions, castles, occupation of the
people, customs and culture etc.). Bel prepared also
additional volumes about the districts in the whole
Hungarian Monarchy, but they remained unpublished and
were later damaged.
• In addition to Notitia, Bel published several other books
dedicated to history or geography in Hungarian Monarchy.
• In all his books, Bel always showed his patriotism - he
emphasised an ancient origin of the Slovaks and admired
their rich language.

12. Recognition
• For his achievements, Matej Bel (Bél Mátyás,
Matthias Bel or Matthias Belius) became a
honorary member of several scientific societies
(Royal Society London; Berlin; Sankt Peterburg).
• The Emperor Charles VI invited Bel several times
to the Court, financed his publications, made him
the historian of the Court and awarded him as a
nobleman. The pope Clement XII awared Bel a
Golden Medal.

13. Magnum decus Hungariae
• Matej Bel was considered already during his life
one of the greatest scientists in Europe, a
polyhistorian with broad and varied knowledge.
He was called „magnum decus Hungariae“ – the
Great Ornament of Hungary“.
• Bel considered himself: "lingua Slavus, natione
Hungarus, eruditione Germanus„ (the Slovak/
Slavic by language, the Hungarian by nation and
the German by education).
• Matej Bel died suddenly on 29 August 1749 on
his way from Germany to Bratislava.

14. Lessons learned?
• Is it possible (and how) to identify the impact of „great
minds“ on the success of the city/ region/ nation?
• Do we know enough about – for instance on:
- background of the development of great minds
(social, cultural, economic, political, gender, and other
capital)
- how to develop/ support/ and use the power of great
minds of today? (a new mode of governance, role
models, etc. ?)

15. ĎAKUJEM
THANK YOU VERY MUCH