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The early medieval juridical norms commonly outlawed and, consequently, banished people convicted of serious crimes like murder, adultery or woman kidnapping. In the case of the ruling authority, monarchs punished the acts of treason and infidelity mainly with exile. Sources referring to the Moravian principality in the 9th century often mention exiles and fugitives from the higher social strata. The article provides a specification of these persons and a partial analysis of the political circumstances motivating the banishments and requests for asylum in the Moravian principality.

This study focuses on the Chronica Boemorum by Cosmas of Prague, which is one of the most important narrative sources for Czech history in the era of the Přemyslid dynasty. An analysis of this literary work attempts to address the question of how the chronicler worked with the category of fidelity that is nowadays considered to be one of the fundamental ideas and widespread legal forms through which the medieval society expressed its hierarchical order.

In the Middle Ages a good relationship between the ruler and his people was built on loyalty (fidelitas). Loyalty to the king was also very important for the political order and preservation of the power of the ruler as well as his people (magnates, mounted warriors, bishops, abbots and provosts). The oath of personal fidelity, devotion and loyalty was a part of the ritual in strengthening the relationship between the lord and his man. In Medieval Latin the words fides and fidelitas had originally a religious meaning – believer, a Christian, and Faith.

The article deals with relations between Frankish (East-Frankish) Empire and The Mojmír ́s Moravia. In 822, its inhabitants were mentioned in written sources for the first time. New contacts with the Fankish world had brought new challenges to the Moravians and their rulers as for the question how to devise their mutual relations. In earlier literary sources they were understood as international. It is necessary to note that these terms are inappropriate for the 9th century.