Sunny Bratislava

Medieval Bratislava - In the end of the 10th century, the Hungarian state was established, while the territory of present-day Bratislava was annexed to it in the reign of Stephen I (1001-1038). Bratislava became an important economic and administration centre of Hungarian borderland. Besides advantages following from this position, significance of the castle of Bratislava and its vicinity was also bringing negatives in the form of frequent military attacks. As early as in 1042, German King Henry I destroyed Bratislava. Further unrests hit it between 1074 - 1077 in relation to a dispute regarding Hungarian throne.

In the 13th century, royal privileges were granted to Bratislava. Significant period in life of the town at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries was that of reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg. Sigismund confirmed earlier donations and privileges to the town granted by the ruling families of Arpads and Anjouos and, granting new privileges, he accentuated Bratislava as a prominent political and economic town of Hungary. Based on his decree of 1405, Bratislava ranked among the most significant towns that had been called royal towns since then. In 1434, he granted the town a heraldic deed with the right to use a coat of arms with three towers above an open gate in city walls.