Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/23

 This great warrior attempted to establish a Slavic State, whose center should be Bohemia. He carried on many wars, especially with the Franks. The king of the Franks, Dagobert, sent messengers to Samo demanding that restitution be made to some of his subjects, who claimed that they had been wronged by the Slavs. As Samo would not grant the request, the Franks prepared for war, calling to their aid the Longobards and Allamans. The southwestern part of Bohemia was soon overrun by the enemy; and for a while destruction seemed to threaten the country. But Samo, having prepared his army, made a fierce attack upon them; a battle, raging for three days, was fought at Domaslitz (Taus), in which the Franks were totally defeated and compelled to flee, leaving their baggage behind them.

After the death of Samo, for a period of about 150 years, very little is known of Bohemia. The great State he had established was broken up, the Servians, Moravians, Čechs, and other tribes, that had been subject to him, became independent, living under their own rulers and princes.

The few historical facts in regard to this period are collected from tradition, from songs, from contemporary histories of other nations, and from the poems of the Queen’s Court manuscript. Although there is little authentic history in regard to Krok and his daughters, their names are so interwoven into the literature of the country, that some knowledge of them is indispensable to the thoughtful student.

Krok was the ruler of Bohemia about a hundred years after Samo. On account of his valor and wisdom, he was greatly beloved; and people from far and near