Royal Court of Bohemia

[Petrarca]

Artifex Moris Bellique

Ladislav (Czech) ~ Ladislaus (German) ~ Ladislavus (Latin) ~ Laszlo (Hungarian)

The etymological origin of the name means “To rule with glory”

The Royal Court of His Majesty, Ladislav, Lord of the Kingdom of Bohemia, King of Hungary, Dalmatia, Serbia, Galicia, Lodomere, Cumania, and Bulgaria, Overlord of Croatia, Duke of Upper and Lower Austria, of Carinthia, of Carniola, of Lusatia, of Luxemburg, of Silesia, of Styria, Margrave of Moravia, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, King Among the Princes, Grandmaster of the Knights of the Cross of the Red Star, Arch-Cupbearer of the Empire, Arch-Hunter of the Empire


Ladislavus, dei gracia dominus regni Boemie, rex Hungarie, Dalmacie, Seruie, Gallicie, Lodomerie, Cumanie et Bulgarieque, dominus Croacie, Lvczelburgensis, Slesie, Austrie, Styrie, Karinthie et Carniole dux, marchio Moravie et Lusacie, arcimagister venator, bibitas tulli

The Simplified Arms of His Majesty the King

Family

Paternal line: Johann von Wittelsbach was Ladislav’s father and Duke of Bayern-Straubing, a minor duchy in Bavaria centered upon the spa town of Straubing. Ladislav rather bitterly notes that while his mother raised him in Görlitz, the only things his father left him were an insignificant duchy and four sisters, half of whom are illegitimate. Through Duke Johann, Ladislav is a cousin to the dukes of Bayern-Munich, which controls most of Bavaria, and more distantly, to the Count Palatine. The Bavarian line, of which Straubing is a cadet branch, is originally itself a cadet branch founded by Emperor Ludwig IV distinct from the Rhenish line. Johann, at one point Bishop of Liege, was to inherit Holland, Hainault, and Seeland under Burgundian overlordship from his brother Wilhelm, but Wilhelm’s daughter and illegitimate sons seized those counties instead.

Maternal line: Elisabeth von Luxemburg (her line sometimes retains the appellation von Görlitz) was Ladislav’s mother, Countess of Görlitz, and the last of her family except for her son. Kept from power, along with the rest of the von Luxemburg, by the Habsburg occupation, she raised Ladislav at her county court. She convinced the Czech nobility to elect Ladislav as an infant, persuading them that the House was powerless and would remain at the mercy of the nobility. Through Countess Elisabeth, daughter of the Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Görlitz, Ladislav is great-grandson of Emperor Karl IV, great-nephew of Emperor Vaclav and Emperor Sigismund, and nephew of Queen Elisabeth (cousin to his mother) of Hungary and Luxembourg. From that line Ladislav gains the familial claims to Luxembourg and Hungary as well as his ancestors’ position as Kings of Bohemia stretching back to the Przemsyl dynasty in the 10th century.

Brother to Nathalie and Margareta von Wittelsbach
Cousin to Albrecht von Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria-Munich
Cousin to Frederick (Fridrich Falcký) von Wittelsbach, Count Palatine and King of Denmark

[Petrarca]

Nobles

Ondrej

Katrina

z Rožmberka (Czech) ~ von Rosenberg (German)
The Rožmberk family is the largest landholder in the kingdom besides the Crown. During the Hussite Wars, they remained loyal to their God and King, supplying troops and leadership for Romanist factions. Oldřich, as the most powerful member of the family, is the head of loyalist Czech nobles and a strong candidate for the throne if anything untoward happened to the King. While Oldřich remains on his estates, Ondrej and Zikmond, the two next most powerful, serve as envoys of the King to the Reichstag and Pskov. Ondrej’s daughter Katrina almost married Ladislav; the union was called off by Cardinal von Ehrlichman.

Wenzel Vench von Dohna auf Grafenstein

von Dohna auf Grafenstein (German)
As a result of the so-called "Feud of Dohna" (1385 – 1402) the Donins were forced out of their lands by Wilhelm the One-Eyed, Margrave of Meißen. A member of that dispossessed family, Wenzel von Dohna, rose through his own acumen to prominence in the court. Bereft of all but a portion in Bohemia of his estates, von Dohna is the epitome of German nobles allied to the Crown out of fear and necessity.
Children: Johann
Nikolaus
Siblings: Franz
Anna
Nickol

Jiri z Podiebrad a Kunstatu

Podiebrad a Kunstatu (Czech)
During the Hussite Wars, Jiri (alternately Jiriz) was the chief lieutenant for Hynek Ptacek of the moderate Utraquist faction. Since Ptacek’s death, he has received the loyalties of the Utraquist nobility, placing them in cautious alignment with the monarchy and remaining silent on the religious question.
Children: Bocek
Heinrich
Viktorin
Ludwig
Margarete
Magdalena
Zdenka

Jan z Valdštejna

z Valdštejna (Czech) ~ von Wallenstein (German)
Jan remained loyal to the King during the Hussite Wars, largely disregarding the religious controversy. His brother entered the clergy, becoming a Bishop, while the youngest became a Knight of St. John. Altogether the family has been exceptionally loyal to the monarchy.
Sons: Jan
Beneš, bishop of Kamin
Hynek
Zdeněk, Knight of the Cross of the Red Star

Hanuš z Kolovrat

z Kolovrat (Czech)
Like many families, the z Kolovrat (alternately Kolowrat) had split allegiances during the Hussite Wars. This is reflected in one branch led by Hanuš, a canon in the Archbishopric of Praha, and another led by Jan Bezdružický z Kolovrat, whose wife is of the z Dubé family, while yet another branch’s daughter is married to Jan Roháč z Dubé himself.
Hanuš
Jindřich
Beneš
Jan Bezdružický z Kolovrat

Jan Roháč z Dubé

Roháč z Dubé (Czech)
Jan Roháč z Dubé leads one of the many branches of the z Dubé family. Previously the most powerful noble in Bohemia, he served as regent during Ladislav’s minority and sought to weaken the powers of the monarchy. His allegiances with the Hussites and attempts at subversion are well known.

Andreas von Trauttmansdorff

von Trauttmansdorff (German)
As with most of the German nobility, the von Trauttmansdorff are monarchists from both necessity and sympathy.
Andreas
Christoph, Assistant Bishop of Seccau
Johann, Archbishop of Admont
Udalrich
Herrand

Bernhard von Dietrichstein

von Dietrichstein (German)
The von Dietrichstein are another historic family of German nobles led by their elderly patriarch Georg.
Georg
Thomas
Mauriz

Jiří z Kounic

Kounic (Czech) ~ Kaunitz (alternately)
Jiří is the current head of this Czech family and last member. He and his wife, of the z Valdštejna, have been trying desperately to conceive an heir to the family.

Jan IV “Telecký”

z Hradce (Czech) von Neuhaus (German)
Part of the moderate Utraquist faction during the wars, z Hradce’s close cousin Jindrich was killed leading royalist forces during the battle of Sudoměř. Afterwards, Jan sought peace at the expense of religious purity.

Prominent Persons

Jan Rokycana

A distinguished theologian, writer, and politician, Rokycana taught at the University of Praha, where he supported the Hussite cause. He married a woman from the Rozmberk family who sympathized with his affiliation.

Dietrich von Ehrlichman

A minor German noble, he entered the clergy and rose to be Archbishop of Praha and Primate of Bohemia. Through his influence at the court, he secured the marriage of his sister to Ondrej Rozmberk and became a trusted confidante of the King. He is necessarily a supporter of the monarchy by both ethnicity and religion.

Miroslav Netolicky

An engineer by training, he sold his services with the condottiere in Italy. Returning to Bohemia, he left the martial trade to construct roads for the Crown and then purchase a number of mills and smithies near Plsen. He has attempted to organize them to better refine metal and craft armaments—and make a profit, of course.

Hans Gruber

He left the Sudeten to serve for fifteen years in the mercenary armies of the Visconti. There he met Miroslav Netolicky and learned some Italian. Afterwards, Ondrej Rozmberk hired him as a guard captain, where he often served as an escort for Rozmberk’s daughter Katrina. Competing under the false register of Hans Rokycana z Teplice, he won the joust in Portugal, where he departed for Montpellier with a few xebecs, intending to conduct piracy.

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Past Monarchs of the Kingdom

Premyslid dynasty
Borivoj (870-895)
Spytihnev I (895-915)
Vratislav I (915-921)
Duke Wenceslaus I (921-935)
Boleslaus I the Cruel (935-972)
Boleslaus II the Pious (972-999)
Boleslaus III (999-1002)
Vladivoj (1002-1003)
Boleslaus III (1003)
Jaromir (1003)
Boleslaus III (1003)

Piast dynasty
Boleslaus I of Poland (1003-1004, king of Poland)

Premyslid dynasty
Jaromir (1004-1012)
Oldrich (1012-1033)
Jaromir (1033-1034)
Oldrich (1034)
Bretislav I (1035-1055)
Spytihnev II (1055-1061)
Vratislav II (1061-1092)
Konrad I (1092)
Bretislav II (1092-1100)
Borivoj II (1101-1107)
Svatopluk II (1107-1109)
Vladislav I (1109-1117)
Borivoj II (1117-1120)
Vladislav I (1120-1125)
Sobeslav I (1125-1140)
Vladislav II (1140-1172)
Bedrich (1172-1173)
Sobeslav II (1173-1178)
Bedrich (1178-1189)
Konrad II Ota (1189-1191)
Duke Wenceslaus II (1191-1192)
Premysl I Ottokar (1192-1193)
Jindrich Bretislav III (1193-1197)
Vladislav Jindrich (1197)
Premysl I Ottokar (1197-1230)
Wenceslaus I (1230-1253)
Premysl Ottokar II, "The Iron and Gold King" (1253-1278)
Wenceslaus II (1278-1305)
Wenceslaus III (1305-1306)

Carinthian line
Henry of Carinthia (1307-1310)

Luxemburg dynasty
John of Luxembourg (1310-1346)
Charles IV (1346-1378)
Wenceslaus IV (1378-1419)
Sigismund (1419-1420)
--interregnum--

Wittelsbach-Luxemburg dynasty
His Majesty King Ladislav - český král

The Congress of Nobles

With the reconstitution of a majority of the kingdom, the Congress of Nobles now has most of its previous number. Many of the nobility do claim descent from the ancient Przemysl Dynasty of St. Wenceslas.

Jan Rohac z Dube is the head of the Congress of Nobles due to his seniority and leadership
Other prominent members of the nobility include

Ondrej Rozmberk -- Delegate to the Imperial Diet
Slavomir Brtnický z Plzen -- Ambassador to the County Palatine
Vladimir Rokycana z Teplice -- Ambassador to the Regent of Hungary
Tomas Hasec z Libìšic -- Ambassador to the Duchy of Pommerania
Blazej Rozmberk -- Ambassador to the Duchy of Saxony
Philip von Bruck -- Ambassador to the County of Wurttemberg
Friedrich von Werngau -- Ambassador Plenipotentiary
Zbynek Berka z Dube -- Ambassador to the Duchy of Bremen, Prussia, and Hannover
Zikmund Rozmberk -- Ambassador to the Russian princes
Matij Hrdina z Toebska
Vaclav Hamrlik z Hradesina
Mikulas Turek ze Strebska
Erazim Kubina z Ratiboru
Arnot Vojtech z Harrachu -- Ambassador to the Serene Republic
Karel Cechmanek z Lambergu
Humprecht Czernin z Chudenic
Franz von Dietrichstein auf Weichselstädt -- Ambassador to the Margrave of Baden
Jan Chotek z Chockova
Heník z Valdštejna
Johann Friedrich von Trauttmansdorff -- Ambassador to the Crown of Lotharingia
Štìpán Bítovští z Lichtemburka
Jindøich z Lipé
Jindøich Škopek z Dubé
Zikmund z Ronova
Hynek z Osového
Kaspar von Nostitz
Otto von Rothenburg
Petr z Michalovic
Beneš z Vartemberka
Mikuláš Hasištejnský z Lobkowicz
Jan Popel z Lobkowicz
Hanuš z Kolovrat
Wenzel von Dohna
Heinrich von Rotau
Viktorin Svihovsky
Jiri z Podiebrad a Kunstatu
Vaclav Holub ze Skorkova- Grandmaster of the Knights of the Cross of the Red Star

History

The Czechs and the Moravians emerge dimly into history in a chronicled account of a 7th-century union against the Avars, led by Samo, a Frankish merchant. By the late 8th century, during the reign of the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne, Moravia had received its first Western Christian missions, and by the 830s a proto-state habitually called “Great Moravia” had arisen along the upper Danube, ruled by its prince Mojmír and incorporating Nitra, in present-day Slovakia. Nitra already had its own church, while other early church sites have also been found in Moravia, notably at Mikulčice. The conversion of Moravia is traditionally associated with the 9th-century mission recorded in the Lives of the Byzantine Slav brothers Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius. Born in the area of Salonika, they were sent on their mission, we are told, by the Byzantine Emperor Michael II, following a request from the Moravian prince Rostislav. Use of Slavonic in the liturgy went against the Latin-centred practice of the Western Church, but the Papacy is recorded as giving the mission some backing. Cyril died in Rome, but Methodius resumed his work in Moravia, despite conflict with the Frankish clergy. After his death, however, the Slavonic rite was expelled from Moravia, and its main centres became Bulgaria, the Slav Balkans, and Kievan Russia. By the early 10th century the Moravian state had collapsed under pressure from the incoming Magyars (Hungarians), and Moravia later became a province of the emerging Bohemian kingdom.

To what extent the Slavonic rite also flourished in Bohemia is a matter of dispute. Until the 14th century Bohemia was ruled by the Přemyslid dynasty, of legendary origin. One day, as the story goes, the Czech nobles refused to be ruled over by a woman, Princess Libuše, any longer; she told them to follow her horse till it led them to Přemysl, her husband-to-be, ploughing in a field. The nation, in turn, traditionally derives its origins from the patriarchal leader Czech, who stood Moses-like upon Bohemia's Mount of Říp and pronounced the land vacant, and fit to inhabit. Bohemia began to receive Christianity by the 9th century, when fourteen Bohemian princes were baptized at Regensburg, while according to legend an early Přemyslid prince Bořivoj was christened by Methodius, founding the first Bohemian church at Levý Hradec, and later another at Prague Castle. Under his grandson Wenceslas (Václav in modern Czech), Bohemia's westward affiliation was marked by a church at Prague Castle, now its Cathedral, dedicated to the Saxon St. Vitus. Wenceslas, who subsequently became Bohemia's patron saint, was murdered in 935 by his brother Boleslav, and his piety was soon celebrated in both Latin and Slavonic legends of his life. The use of Old Church Slavonic, perhaps temporarily revived, reached its end in 1097, when the Slavonic monks of Sázava were driven out. (Much later, Charles IV brought some Croat monks of the Slavonic rite to Prague, to the Emmaus Monastery, but this was a brief episode.)

By the 13th century Přemysl Ottokar I had obtained from the Emperor the hereditary title of King and the Bohemian rulers later became imperial electors. Large-scale immigration began in the 13th century from Germany, bringing population to settle new towns and develop mines, such as the rich silver deposits of Kutná Hora, as well as to occupy the less fertile border areas. Queens, royal advisers and church figures were often German too, while German-language culture obtained a strong position at court, and amongst some of the nobility, who often adopted German names for their castles and families. The towns later became more Czech in character, through assimilation, and during the Hussite Wars. When, however, a 14th-century chronicler writes that “German speech is commoner than Czech almost in all towns and at the court”, this may be taken as referring in particular to the speech habits of the upper nobility and prosperous burghers.

In 1278 Přemysl Ottokar II was killed in battle against the Emperor Rudolf of Habsburg, having failed to secure territorial gains into Austria given by his wife’s status as the Babenburg heiress. His successor Václav II expanded into Poland and Hungary, but his son Václav III was assassinated in 1306, only a year after his father's death, and the male line of the Přemyslid dynasty came to an abrupt end.

After a four-year tussle, the choice of ruler rested upon John of Luxembourg, the Emperor's youthful son, who married a daughter of Václav II. John was a largely absentee monarch who indulged in tournaments and military adventure, dying at the Battle of Crécy, a blind man, in 1346. Under his son Charles IV, however, Prague became the imperial capital, and it rapidly expanded, acquiring the New Town, much of its Gothic architecture (including St. Vitus Cathedral) and the Charles Bridge. In 1348 Charles founded Prague University, the first in this part of Europe, which attracted many foreign scholars, but its very success, coupled with growing resentment at foreign privilege and the enlarged benefices of the Church, helped to engender later religious and social turmoil. His son Wenceslas IV faced growing difficulties, both with the nobility, and with the Church, whose authority was weakened by the Papal Schism, and undermined by mounting criticism of ecclesiastical wealth and often blatant corruption. Zealous and scholarly preachers, encouraged at first by King and Archbishop, contributed to the growth of a powerful religious reform movement, increasingly Czech in complexion, and centered around the figure of Jan Hus, a University scholar appointed to preach at the popular Bethlehem Chapel in Prague and influenced by the English Wyclif. Wenceslas IV added to existing national animosity by his Kutná Hora decree of 1409, which gave dominance to the Bohemian nation at the University. The losers, who had refused to endorse Wenceslas's favoured Pope, departed in anger to found Leipzig University. Meanwhile this Pope condemned Hus's ideas, and his successor excommunicated him. Summoned to the Council of Constance, Hus failed to submit to authority, and he was burnt at the stake in 1415.

National indignation was further fuelled by the burning of Hus's friend Jerome of Prague. Following the death of Wenceslas IV in 1419, soon after the throwing of Mayor and councilors to their deaths by Hussites from the windows of the New Town Hall (the “Defenestration”), the Hussite party refused to accept his brother Sigismund, as German King, Sigismund had failed to save Hus at Constance. Sigismund pursued his claim by invading crusades, while the radical Hussites, based at their biblically named town of Tábor, split from the more moderate party known as Utraquists (named from the taking of both bread and wine in the communion). The famous Táborite leader Jan Žižka scored repeated victories over Sigismund's armies, but the Hussite factions remained at odds until their final defeat near Berlin.

Permanently occupied by Austrian forces after the Hussite wars, Bohemia was effectively a part of the Habsburg state under [Archduke]. On the eve of the kingdom’s military conquest, the Estates met in Plsen to choose a successor to Sigismund. Led by Jan Rohac z Dube, the nobles elected Ladislav, great-grandson of Charles IV and son of the Luxemburg Countess of Görlitz and the Wittelsbach Duke of Bavaria-Straubing. Strangely, a pretender claiming to be the Bohemian King did appear in Frankfurt am Main to elect the Emperor at various occasions during these times. Owing to his family’s influential position in the Empire and a coterie of powerful allies, the Habsburg Archduke Albrecht V retained Bohemia for fifteen years. Defeated in a series of wars by Duke Joachim of Pommern, Albrecht relinquished Bohemia. Ladislav assumed control of the newly independent state, aligning it with pro-Imperial and Wittelsbach factions of the Empire. When Markus Jaeger, bastard claimant to the Austrian throne, succeeded to the duchy, Ladislav lodged protests in the Diet rejecting Markus’s ascension. Revelations of a conspiracy by Austria against Bohemia and the Emperor and a rejection of the sanctions put forth by the Emperor led to war against the much-reduced Austria. Peace left Bohemia extending almost fully to the borders achieved by Ottokar II; only the rule of Upper Austria by the Count Palatine, cousin of Ladislav, formally prohibited this.

After the death of Mathias of Hungary, Ladislav exhibited his claims to the Crown of St. Stephen. Threatening to crown himself with the Hungarian regalia held by Emperor Erich since Sigismund’s death and taking advantage of Hungary’s precarious position against Venice, Ladislav gained the throne from the grudging Diet and Prince Ugo. He united the two kingdoms’ succession and procured a pact of military and trade unity, though it remains to be seen whether the articles will hold.

[Petrarca]

Laws of the Dual Monarchy

The Golden Sicilian Bull acknowledges the extraordinary procedures of Bohemian succession and the territorial unity of the kingdom.

Notably,
The Estates of Bohemia will elect their king, though if a descendant through a male line exists only he shall stand for election
Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia are considered indivisible parts of Bohemia.

The Golden Bull acknowledges Bohemia’s foremost position within the Empire and grants the monarch the position of Elector.

Notably,
The King of Bohemia is the first lay elector of the seven electors who select a King of the Romans
The Kingdom shall always remain independent and whole, composed of the core lands of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia

The Nuremburg Diktat


The Ausgleich


The Union of Arms


Electoral Union (Kurfurstenvereiri)


Wahlkapitulation

Institutions

Hofrat

Hofkammer

Hofkanzlei

Hofkriegsrat

High Chancellor of Kingdom of Bohemia (nejvyšší kancléř Král.českého
High Chamberlain in Kingdom of Bohemia (český nejvyšší komorník),
High Marshall of Kingdom of Bohemia (český nejvyšší maršálek),
Hetman of Bohemian Kingdom (zemský hejtman v Čechách)
Hetman of Styria (Steiermark) (štýrský zemský hejtman),
Plzen district hejtman (hejtman plzeňského kraje)
Grand Prior of Order of St.John in Bohemia (velkopřevor českých johanitů ve Strakonicích),
High Burggrave of Prague (nejvyšší pražský purkrabí)
Burggrave of Prague (purkrabí pražský)
Burggrave of Karlštejn (karlštejnský purkrabí)

The Cathedral of St. Vitus, in Pražský Hrad


The Eastern view of the cathedral

Others dedicated to serving Christ's flock

Bischof Sigismund von Mollwitz of Brno -- At the Curia
Father Jaromir Havlicek, Order of the Friars Minor -- Ambassador to the Duchy of Bavaria
Father Václav Kaunitz, Order of the Friars Preachers -- Aide to Holy Office

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Order of the Knights of the Cross of the Red Star

The Knight's Order Cross

Master of Grand Masters of the Chivalrous Order: Vaclav Holub ze Skorkova

"Ordo sacrorum ac militarium Crucigerorum cum rubea stella in latere (pede) pontis (Pragenis)"

Past Masters (Since the Order´s founding by St. Agnes and His Holiness Gregory IV)

1237—1248: Albert
1248—1260: Konrad, zv. Svab “the Swabian”
1260—1276: Merbot z Ratiboru
1276—1282: Otto, zv. Sas “the Saxon”
1282—1296: Ekard
1296—1313: Fridrich I
1313—1324: Rudiger
1324—1351: Oldrich
1351—1352: Jindrich
1352—1363: Fridrich II
1380—1407: Zdenik
1407—1419: Mikulas I. Capsky
1419—1426: Jan Capsky

[Petrarca]

Laws and Edicts of the Kingdom

Zlatá Bula Sicílska -- The Golden Sicilian Bull

Including Confirmatio Regalis Dignitatis Bohemiae

Zlatá Bula -- The Golden Bull

Confirmatio Electionensis Regnis Bohemiae

The Indictment of Urseolo of Hungary

Issued by His Serene Highness Erich von Wittelsbach

Henceforth, Urseolo, formerly King of Hungary and vassal of the Most Munificent Duchess of Luxembourg, is summoned before the Reichskammergericht to answer charges of Unlawful Severance of an Oath of Vassalization, Disruption of the Imperial Peace, Treason Against the Empire through disobedience to Imperial Mandates and Laws regarding the governance of Imperial Fiefdoms.

The Nürnberg Diktat

By the decree of Jan Rohac, Vikomt z Dube, Regent of Bohemia, in the name of the Crown of St. Vaclav and the regency council, foremost of all nobles among the Empire, puts forth as unalterable law from the power given while the monarch remains in his minority, in the year of our Lord fourteen and thirty-eight, this statute:

Henceforth, all monies taken from the treasuries of the nation and spent on fineries, goods, and salaries for laborers, clerks, scribes, men at arms, and others employed at the royal court of St. Vaclav, whether in Bohemia or at the Imperial Diet or held abroad or traveling, must be confirmed by the Estates of Bohemia or be in contravention and breach of the edicts and laws of the kingdom.

The greater part of the Estates, assembled in Praha or wherever else inside the bounds of the kingdom, must vote without coercion or subornment to consent to the expension of the state coffers when the august members are called upon individually in order of precedence by the presider of the Estates. The Estates themselves shall not be denied fair purchase of goods, luxuries, or labor when they assemble or journey to Praha or wherever else inside the bounds of the kingdom to assemble by any party lest the denier be in defiance of the royal statutes.

The Estates shall not be subject to disbandment by any authority save their own, including the Crown of St. Vaclav, nor shall any man be allowed to disrupt or enter without proper admission into the Estates the proceedings therein. Upon assembly, the Estates may not be deprived of shelter, food, nor drink of reasonable quality whether at reasonable cost or without charge. None shall block, hold captive, nor attack any member of the Estates bound for an assembly, on pain of trial and punishment.

Dictated at Nuremberg in Anno Domini MCDXLVIII

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The Knights of Blanik, who with St. Wenceslas shall save the Bohemian people


Sketch of the Crown's Rangers

Kutna Hora

Not only Kutna Hora but the whole Kutna Hora district is the very beautiful place of the Middle Bohemia. It takes an area covering 937 square km. There are lowlands and hilly places there, with an elevation beyond 500 meters. The extensive valley of the Elbe lowlands, Stredoceska pahorkatina and a part of Ceskomoravska vrchovina increase the district various character.

The ancient city of Kutna Hora is built above the steep descent of the Vrchlice Creek, in the Kutna Hora plateau, approximately 70 kilometers from Prague.

Most important for the region, however, was the discovery of rich silver ore deposits in the 13th century. The Royal Mining Law (Ius Regale Montanorum) of 1300, dictated by the need to modernize the mining law, laid the foundations for legislation relating to precious ores in central Europe for several centuries to come. In the days of its greatest glory, Kutna Hora was second in the land after Prague. The Prague silver groschen, minted in the royal mint at Vlassky dvur, was in its day valid almost throughout Europe due to its quality. The construction of the monumental Cathedral of St Barbara, the patron of miners, commenced in the 14th century. The riches of the town were reflected in residences of the patriciate. The present finds of Gothic structures and ceilings decorated in the Renaissance style give at least a partial idea of the medieval mining town.

During the period of its greatest silver boom, Kutna Hora was the most important town in the Czech kingdom after Prague. In July of the year 1300, based on the rich silver strikes in the area, King Vaclav II. implemented a currency reform with the participation of Italian financiers. All existing mints in the Czech nation went out of operation, and in the central mint at Vlassky dvur, the first Prague groschen were struck. Kutna Hora thus became the country's most important economic center, and at the same time, it was being transformed into a royal town, with all of the rights and privileges to be confirmed later by King Jan Lucembursky and King Charles IV.

The end of the 15th century has brought this burgeoning town an unusual construction development. Construction was begun on a new town hall, a Stone House, and some majestic patrician houses.

At the end of the 14th century, it had a population equal to London`s. Much of the town`s wealth went towards the development of Prague, but some also went to the construction of a number of impressive buildings in Kutna Hora itself. The oldest is the church of St. James (Sv. Jakub), though it pales in comparison to the Cathedral of St. Barbara, one of the grandest in Central Europe. Dedicated to St. Barbara, patron of miners, it was probably begun in 1380 and and completed in 1420.

[Petrarca]

Thunder cracked on Mount Blanik, and clouds heavy with the burden of rain intruded upon the happy sky once colored the hue of the Virgin´s cloak.

Yet he remained undeterred. He was questioned, "Shall you duly interpret this sign as your doom? You may yet live, only acquiesce. Clearly, the heavens and the Lord Almighty signal your demise."

"No, my triumph," came the reply.

And thus it began, atop the mountain where the skies waxed wetly and tender droplets began to fall, portending a new tide.

[cccino]

A letter arrives bearing the royal seal of the King of Hungary.


Noble Ladislav, King of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia,

I pray this letter find you in good health. I bring words of friendship, that our two Kingdoms may regain the close relationship that was had in ages past, as in the days of the Visegrad triple alliance a century ago. Perhaps an initial step towards this would be the exchange of ambassadors, that we may more readily communicate?

Signed,
Matthias, King of Hungary and Croatia

[Petrarca]

Yet I digress and sin, being so proud as to improve upon the style of the works of Homer who began his own both in media res - that is, in the middle of things.

Some Years Past

He stumbled, then caught himself on a stool. A cry arose, "You haven´t paid yet, lout," yet he ignored it, and tumbled onward to glory, in this case the rotund belly of the barkeep. He took this pause in his journey outwards to upright himself. He turned, in the dread moment before the commission of some sin, when a populace is fixated by dark chance, the planets aligned properly, entirely upon the one central person. He then addressed the snooping ears and wandering eyers of the publicans, some spies probably in their misdst, announcing to them all in a mock-dramatic dropping of his guard: "You may think me a thirsty beggar, but I´m no worse that that bastard Richard in the high castle. Every day I aspire to finish in a pub, and I do. That is success. And all the while, he wants to be King of France, to be with the royal pigs hunting the fruits of a horse´s dropping. Poor Dick, nobody ever taught him better´n to look at another man´s house like that."

With an unknown finality, he sealed the matter: "Good old Dick, wouldn´t know a fine woman from a milkmaid´s heifer if allowed to feel both, and too cowardly to ask the differed." The sheer incoherence of his tirade, and the ingratitude of insulting his liege before many of his peers, stunned the publicans, most of whom were part of the Ducal court.

The first courtiers to hear the story were amused. But mostly shocked, and a few vengeful. His few remaining friends, past comrades from the victorious campaigns, convinced him to leave Normandie before any decided to demonstrate their loyalty to the Duke with an act of bloodshed. To leave, not for England nor the other duchies such as Aquitaine, but for friendly yet safely distant confines of another land. Any land, preferably far, far from Normandie.

And so within a fortnight, Sir John of Richmond departed under the cover of night, mounted, from the borders of the duchy with some few possessions, having given the large portion of the little that remained from his war prizes to his fellow knights.

The kingdom of Aragón beckoned, though falsely, like the siren to John, for despite its belligerent and crimson glorioes, it too remained too close and too friendly to those of Normandie, his adopted him. And so, a man with a country, he left for the Empire, which had aided his side in its intrigue and done England a great favor by burning the Frenchwoman. As he traveled, he reflected at how hard a body, once started, is to stop, and almost had he reached the easternmost edge of the Empire when he finally remained in place.




Something stirred him. He awoke, and in the haze following slumber saw a figure above. He decided from the countenance that it was probably not the Almighty, whose divine mercy would have allowed him to return to sleep, and so he halfheartedly rose. A truly kind God would have intervened to let him sleep more. He smiled at the thought of being patron saint of dreams, which prompted the first remark from the figure: "English dog. Rise, for the nobles demand answers to their inquiries."

One of the seated men verily yelled at him: "We commend you to testify to your intrigues for the English crown." The room came into focus with opulent glory and haughty faces staring at him.

"Answer my questions, dog." A response duly came: "If your grace, or would you prefer your lordship, would permit me to consider the question again, I would appear to have dozed for some time in the interim between questions."

"Let him be. Even you must realize this man, Count, is too inebriated to commit any intrigue than that with the barmaids," came from another, who appeared older and occupied the seat of highest honor.

"Let it be known, Jan, that I am not yet satisfied with the results."

"I don´t care what you are satisfied with. It is I, not you, who heads the Congress. Guards, take this man out of my presence."

Richmond felt himself rising- being lifted, rather, by the guards. He cursed to himself as the bottle slipped from his fingers, but quickly forgot the oath as he fell asleep, not caring about the soldiers carrying him out nor the nobles who were now shouting at each other in the room.

[Longinus]

Marius greets Bohemian envoy with warm smile.

“Greetings in Stettin sire,

It is good to see Czech here after such a long period of darkness in Bohemia. It is true that House of the Greif has always kept the Bohemians and Bohemian crown in the highest regards.

You are of course admitted in our humble castle, please feel free, as you are one of the most welcome guests here.

It is indeed sad day for our House but after the rain comes sun and we all pray for our father soul. Perhaps Your Grace will attend the funeral with us?

[Bocaj]

A man hurries into the court of Bohemia.

"Your Majesty,

I am Thibault Petersen, representative of the Bavarian duchy. My lord recently got your letter and asked me to come and tell you personally that any Bohemian's are welcomed to Bavaria. To long were both of our lands occupied by a common enemy, but finally we have got our rightful lands back! Yes, both of our lands have been patient, and in Bavaria, we admire your nation's patience to deal with the Hapsburgs for so long.

Anyway, we are all very glad that Austria's disgrace has been dethroned. Sir, as a token of our commemoration of this, I have brought a glazed piece of paper with a quill pen and ink to signify freedom through diplomacy, and an iron sword to signify freedom through force.

Sire, is it possible that my grace's wish to have me stay as a representative in Prague for Bavaria?"

He then bows slightly in respect before peering up to see his Majesty's expression.

[Petrarca]

His Majesty Ladislav began to speak. With Jan Rohac and much of the rest of the Congress dispersed throughout Germany, undoubtedly enriching themselves from ambassadorial allowances, he no longer had the nobility ruling the county for him. For a boy of sixteen years long promised the power of a kingdom, it was both dangerous and exhilarating.

"Herr Petersen-" and then he caught himself. Even from Nuremberg, Rohac ran the country´s affairs as if it were his own. And Ladislav knew clearly who God and the Congress had chosen as King of Bohemia, and it was not a heretical-sympathizing, self-aggrandizing Czech.

"-His Grace the Duke has received correspondence from Jan Rohac z Dube? This is most interesting. You are most welcome here in Praha and the entire kingdom of Bohemia- though we do not yet control directly all the regions as specified by the Golden Bull, the Emperor has been slightly tardy in that- and rather than send some bankrupt or dissolute noble to fair Munich, I shall dispatch a faithful and upright citizen, Herr Bischof of Brno, Albrecht von Torgau.

I believe that he shall do a splendid job in representing the Crown in Bavaria, rather than the drinking buddies the Duke often tends to pawn off on states held in close friendship by the Crown. I accept your gifts, and welcome you to Praha. May our common trials cause God to bless us with prosperity and happiness as he did Job."

[cccino]

A man arrives in the Bohemian court. Granted audience, he bows to the King.

"Your Majesty, my name is Miklós Kocsi. I have been sent here to represent his majesty the King of Hungary; by your leave.

"His Majesty would like to know what are your hopes for the future relationship between our two nations, and between Bohemia and our allies in Poland. It is our hope the three Kingdoms may find their place together as brothers."

He bows again.

[Petrarca]

His Majesty smiles. The rumors that Cardinal von Erlichman has regained his sight and plans a larger role for the Church in Bohemia have largely pleased him, as anything to weaken the nobility does. The conduct of Bohemia´s external affairs now appears to be falling into his hands also.

"Herr Kocsi, the presence of any envoy from the King of Croatia and Hungary is always welcome. I hold hopes for the relations between our two states and the Polish kingdom. Together, we compose all the Slavic states of the West, and none can doubt our service to civilization and bulwarks against barbarism."

He smiles, perhaps at the reference to pillaging hordes of the East and the origin of his guest.

"Should there be any matter that my brother sovereign in Croatia and Hungary requests my aid, I shall be ready, for only together can the lords of Christendom protect the faithful. Welcome to Praha, Herr Ambassador. You will find the people most hospitable here, the chamberlain will guide you out."

[Matt_the_king]

A letter arrives bearing the Polish Seal.

" Greeting King Ladislav, I am Cardinal Zbigniew Olesnicki, I currently run the Kingdom for Young King Wladyslaw until you comes of age. Your proposely of an alliance between us is an excellent idea. Together we can drive out the Heretics in Bohemia and Regain lost lands from the Germans. I will be sending a Noble to your court to act in my name. He will arrive in a year since all the nobles are busy with rebuilding the Kingdom after the last war."

In Christ's Blood,

Cardinal Zbigniew Olesnicki

[Clandestino]

A man enters the Bohemian court dressing in the Polish colors:

"Your Majesty, as promised I'm here as future ambassador of the Polish Crown in the beautiful lands of Bohemia. Let me introduce myself: my name is Krysztof Kieslowski.

The Regent ordered me to ask what is your position regarding the province of Silesia, that nowadays is rulled by the Emperor..."

[Longinus]

A letter arrives from Stettin.

“Onto His Majesty, Ladislav II, King of Bohemia,

Your Majesty,

It has been two years since the proud Bohemian kingdom was restored with the help of Almighty God. Ever since House of the Greif struggled for the freedom of this very realm and never ever step back from this quest.

The path of God’s rulings are unknown for us mere mortals but still all I did was done out of piety. Once Your fief was restored I, both as the Emperor and furst of the House of the Greif wish to extend my hand of friendship to you and your subjects for Bohemia truly is a jewel in the crown of Charlemagne.

I wish to meet with the one who is the King of this realm, I wish to meet the one who was a boy during the time while Bohemian kingdom was under the Habsburg yoke. That is why I wish to invite Your Majesty to Stettin and hope that you will honour all of us with your visit.

Perhaps Your Majesty will participate in the ceremony of baptising my newborn twin children, which is due in one-month time.

In Christian spirit I wish thee good fortune,

In Stettin,

[Petrarca]

His Majesty responds to the Polish envoy: ”Herr Kieslowski, you are most welcome here in Prague and I look forward to relations with the Regent of the Poles.”

The young Ladislav speaks again after the Pole’s departure: ”What shall I do about the Emperor’s letter?”

”Your Majesty would do best to respond to it, sire,” says Vaclav Holub ze Skorkova, the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Cross.

”Perhaps His Majesty may feel it suitable to accept the Emperor’s invitation. The nobles will certainly disapprove of it, but they have not forbade it. Act now, and you can defy the will of the Regency Council and establish your rightful independence. You can even give the Emperor some decoration as a gift, from one sovereign to another.” Sir John interjected with a glass of wine in hand, drawn like a moth to a flame to the royal conversation, away from one of the ladies of the court.

”That is too rash. Jan Rohac z Dube and the rest of the noble regents would be angered, and they could always return to govern directly. Your Majesty, the cautious course is to decline due to ill health and offer apologies. Your Majesty cannot risk angering the nobility.” Vaclav, always cautious, kept his course.

The look in the King’s eyes clearly showed who had gained more sway. ”Both risks and the nobles be damned. God has chosen us to be King of Bohemia, and we shall do as we please. Herr Grandmaster and Herr Richmond shall accompany us to award His Majesty the Emperor, as a gift from His Majesty the King, the Knight’s Order Cross. Our will shall not be impeded by the petty ambitions of minor nobles, no matter what authority they claim over the Crown.”

As Ladislav dismissed him, Richmond spoke with the lady from earlier: ”I shall see you tonight, then?” Her only response was a short, derisive laugh as she walked away. In resignation, he finished the wine in a quick gulp and motioned for another.

[Auspend]

An Austrian arrives at the Bohemian court and bows before the king. With him are two peasants carrying something under a blanket.

"Your Majesty, I am Baron Johann von Villach. I have been sent from His Grace Duke Albrecht of Habsburg. Though he knows Your Majestly has no reason to love the house of Habsburg he hopes the actions of his relatives will not stop you from keeping good terms with His Grace. As a sign of goodwill His Grace sends Your Majesty this eagle," The serfs reveal the eagle within it's cage. It is a splendid and powerful looking beast. "as a sign of his goodwill. It is well trained and should serve you most ably in falconry. Should Your Majesty wish to keep open the lines of communications I shall stay here in Prague, and if not I shall return to my Carinthian estates."