| Region | |
| Resulting States | |
| Historical Divisions | Kingdoms • Principalities • Territories |
| Independence Achieved | After World War I |
| Nationalist Movements | Bohemia • Moravia • Slovakia |
| Incorporation into Larger Empire | |
| Political and Economic Trajectories | Diverged, leading to distinct contemporary identities and relationships |
The modern-day Czech Republic and Slovakia were not historically unified as a single nation-state known as Czechoslovakia, as in our timeline. Instead, the territories that make up these two countries were long divided between various kingdoms, principalities and regions, each with its own distinct political and cultural identity.
The core regions that would become the Czech Republic and Slovakia were dominated by three main political entities for most of their history:
The Kingdom of Bohemia, centered around the region of Bohemia and including parts of Moravia. Bohemia was a powerful medieval kingdom that was part of the Holy Roman Empire and later the Austrian Empire.
The Principality of Moravia, a separate territory from Bohemia that was also incorporated into the Austrian Empire.
The Kingdom of Hungary, which controlled the region of Slovakia for centuries. Slovakia was part of the Hungarian crown lands within the larger Austro-Hungarian Empire.
These territories maintained distinct local languages, customs, and political structures, despite being dominated by larger imperial powers over time. Nationalist movements advocating for autonomy or independence emerged in the 19th century, but failed to achieve their goals during this period.
In 1867, the territories of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia were all incorporated into the newly formed Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy. This unified the previously separate kingdoms under a single imperial structure, but allowed for a degree of local self-governance.
Nationalist sentiment continued to simmer, with groups in Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia increasingly demanding more autonomy or outright independence from Austria-Hungary. However, the central imperial government in Vienna was able to suppress these movements, preventing the emergence of a unified Czechoslovak state.
It was not until after the First World War and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that separate Czech and Slovak nation-states were finally established. In 1918, the First Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed, uniting the territories of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia into a single state.
However, this union proved unstable and short-lived. In the aftermath of World War II, Czechoslovakia was dissolved, with the Czech lands becoming the Czech Republic and Slovakia becoming an independent Slovak Republic. These two nations have since developed along distinct political and economic trajectories, with varying degrees of cooperation and integration.
While the Czech Republic and Slovakia maintain generally positive relations as neighboring states, they are no longer a single unified country. The two nations have forged their own unique national identities, political systems, and economic models since their separation in the mid-20th century.
Some areas of continued cooperation include trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and joint membership in international organizations like the European Union. However, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are now firmly established as separate sovereign states, each pursuing its own domestic and foreign policy agenda. The legacy of their shared history within Austro-Hungary and later Czechoslovakia continues to shape relations between the two countries.
