Day of the First Public Appearance of the Slovak National Council Date in the current year: September 19, 2024

The Slovak National Council is often regarded as the predecessor of the present-day parliament of Slovakia. It was created during the revolutions of 1848 in Europe. The establishment of the Council was an important milestone in the development of the Slovak National Movement.

In the mid-19th century, most of the present-day territory of Slovakia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. When the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 began, Slovaks saw it as a chance to draw attention to national and ethnic issues.

On September 15, 1848, Slovak nationalists Ľudovít Štúr, Jozef Miloslav Hurban and Michal Miloslav Hodža created the Slovak National Council in Vienna. The first meeting of the Council on the territory of Slovakia took place on September 19 in the town of Myjava. At this meeting, Štúr declared independence of the Slovak nation.

Unfortunately, the Slovak National Council ceased to exist in 1849, following the suppression of the revolution. However, its creation is considered a big step towards Slovak independence.