Where did the Slovaks settle?

The Slovaks are a West Slavic ethnic group and nation native to Slovakia, a country in Central Europe. The Slovak people have historically settled in the regions of Central and Eastern Europe, primarily in the territory of present-day Slovakia. However, there are also significant Slovak communities living in other countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Serbia, and Croatia.

The original Slavic tribes that settled in the area of present-day Slovakia were known as the Sclaveni. Over the centuries, these tribes merged and formed the Slovak nation. The Slovaks established the Kingdom of Great Moravia in the 9th century, which was the first large-scale political entity in Central Europe. The kingdom disintegrated in the 10th century, and the Slovaks became part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

The Slovaks lived under Hungarian rule for centuries, but they managed to maintain their language and culture. In the 19th century, the Slovak national movement gained momentum, and the Slovaks achieved independence in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Today, the Slovaks are the predominant ethnic group in Slovakia, accounting for about 85% of the population. There are also significant Slovak minorities in the Czech Republic (2%), Hungary (10%) and other neighbouring countries.