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Přemyslid dynasty edit
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Přemyslid dynasty

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Přemyslid coat of arms, eagle in flames

The Přemyslids (Czech: Přemyslovci, German: Premysliden, Polish: Przemyślidzi), were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia (9th century–1306), and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland. Subsequently ruling House of Luxembourg (1310 - 1437) claimed title for the Czech crown through relation to Přemyslids. House of Habsburg (ruling 1526 - 1918) claimed title to the crown from relation to all previously ruling houses, including the House of Přemysl.


Contents

The origins and growth of Přemyslid Dynasty

Dynasty beginnings date back to the end of 9th century. Premyslids ruled in the tiny principality around Prague. Gradually conquered the region of Bohemia. With a convenient location in the Czech basin haven't been threatened by the expansion the Frankish empire. During in this period Přemyslids ruled in Silesia and founded the city of Wroclaw. In the person of Prince Boleslav II Přemyslids ruled territory stretching to today's Belarus. They controlled important trade routes. But after a promising rise followed a fall due to struggles within the dynasty. In the year 1002 the Polish king even occupied Prague.

The decline ended during the reign of Prince Břetislav. He in turn looted Poland, including the cities of Krakow and Gniezno (1038), where he obtained the relics of St. Adalbert. He sought the establishment of the Prague archbishopric, and wanted to get a royal title. It has succeeded to his son Vratislav II, which became the first King of Bohemia (1085).

His son Soběslav I destroyed the Imperial army of King Lothar III in the Battle of Chlumec (1126). This continued for a further strengthening of Bohemia. Strengthening Bohemia during this period, culminating gain the crown for his nephew Vladislav II (1158). During his reign founded many monasteries and the first stone bridge across the Vltava. But then began the decline of power of the dynasty. Again, because of struggles within the dynasty. On the Czech throne alternated many different leaders from the dynasty. All leading to the eventual bankruptcy. But then came a strong and ambitious Otakar I, Bohemia brought out of the crisis. He started very successful period for nearly 220 years.

At the height of its power

Otakar I was elected to king in the year 1198. He was awarded a royal title for his descendants. Thus began a significant rise to power of the Přemyslids dynasty. His son King Wenceslas I annexed Austria to the Czech lands (1236). There was also a large urban development and crafts.

At the end of the 13th century was one of the most powerful dynasty in Central Europe. In the person of King Otakar II aspired to the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire. Originated the conflict with the House of Habsburg - until then unknown princes. Their representative Rudolf was elected king of Roman. Otakar II it insulted and fought with Rudolph in several wars. The last of the wars, the Battle of Marchfeld was fatal for Otakar (1278). Otakar was clashed with imperial and Hungarian armies. In addition, was faced with domestic treachery of the nobility. He was killed in battle, which led to the first rise of power of the Habsburgs. They permanently acquired Austrian lands until the 20th century.

In the person of his son, King Wenceslas II, gained Premyslids Poland and the Hungarian crown. Wenceslas II formed a vast empire stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Danube river. With a huge vein of silver in Bohemia became a rich country. Imperium, unfortunately, collapsed following the assassination of his only son, Wenceslas III in 1306. The dynasty died out by the sword. but the dynasty had continued on the distaff side. And in the person of Charles IV, Wenceslas II Premyslid grandson, received the imperial dignity. He was crowned in Rome for emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1355).

Legendary rulers

The name of the dynasty, according to Cosmas in his Chronica Boemorum (1119), comes from its legendary founder, Přemysl, husband of Libuše.

Dukes of Bohemia

The first historical Přemyslid was Duke Bořivoj I, baptised in 874 by Saint Methodius. In 895, Bohemia gained independence from Great Moravia. Between 1003 and 1004, Bohemia was controlled by Boleslaus the Brave, Duke of Poland from the Piast dynasty, grandson of Boleslaus I the Cruel.

In 1085, Duke Vratislaus II, and, in 1158, Duke Vladislaus II, were crowned King of Bohemia as a personal award from the Holy Roman Emperor. The title, however, was not hereditary.

Kings of Bohemia

Maximum extent of the kingdom under Otakar II,
c. 1276

Bohemia was the only princedom in Holy Roman Empire, which was raised to kingdom (prior to Napoleonic wars). The reason for this was the strength - as soon as Bohemia was not in civil strife, Czech duke was the principal ally for any candidate for Imperial throne. Also for any Roman king during uprising - for he could punish the rebels simply by raiding lands of those of them, who were Czech neighbours. This is made clear by the person of the first king Vratislav, as Prince Vratislaus II of Bohemia. He was raised to his prominent position not very long after his father Bretislaus pacified Bohemia from years of civil conflict.

This position was of course disputed, whenever Czech internal conflict and pacification in Germany enabled. It was fixed after further weakening of the position of emperor in Germany. In 1198, Duke Přemysl Otakar I gained the title of King of Bohemia as an ally of Philip of Swabia. This title was reconfirmed by Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor and later on in Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor's Golden Bull of Sicily (1212).

Kings of Bohemia, Poland and Hungary, rulers of Austria

Territory under the control of the Přemyslids, c. 1301:
  Kingdom of Bohemia
  Kingdom of Poland
  Probable extent of territory under control of Wenceslaus III in Hungary
  Vassals

In 1269-1276, King Premysl Ottokar II of Bohemia was the first in history to rule the lands of today's Austria together (except for Tyrol). He also founded the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

In 1300, King Wenceslaus II was crowned King of Poland. Prior to this, he held the title "High Duke of Poland (Duke of Kraków)" since 1291 and became its overlord upon the death of Przemysł II of Poland in 1296.

The royal line ended in 1306, with the death of King Wenceslaus III. The Bohemian throne went to the Luxembourgs, and the Polish returned to the Piasts. Descendants of Nicholas, illegitimate son of King Přemysl Otakar II still, however, ruled Opava and Racibórz. This line ended in 1521, with the death of Valentine, Duke of Racibórz.

Legacy

Territorial efforts of the Přemyslid kings (all arranged or supported by marriage) were not made without purpose. They were predecessors to similar later efforts of the House of Luxemburg, Jagiellon dynasty and finally the House of Habsburg. All of them wanted to create a permanent powerbase enabling to rule Germany without really doing so (Luxemburgs, Habsburgs) or at least dominate its closer parts, and to defend the eastern border of the Empire from invasions coming from time to time from the east. It were the Habsburgs, who in the end (1526) succeeded, but it is not a big surprise, that the Czech Estates willingly consented, as it was the most reasonable alternative, especially in the view of ongoing wars with Turks dating from the time of the Sigismund of Luxemburg.

It is interesting to note, that the only Czech king, who could not personally follow such aims through dynastical bonds, George of Poděbrady, who was deemed heretic by pope and therefore could not hope for his sons to inherit the throne, tried to achieve it by a purely political project Tractatus pacis, of course unsuccessfully. Certainly it would be anachronical to state, that the Přemyslids tried to establish Austrian Empire, but still they did quite enough to unite all the lands within its later borders. Whether it means, that traditional Czech policy is support of European integration, is perhaps not purely historical question, but rather that of personal judgment made today.

Family tree

Bořivoj I. + Saint Ludmila

  • Spytihněv I.
  • Vratislav I.
    • Saint Václav I.
    • Boleslav I. the Cruel
      • Boleslav II. the Pious
        • Boleslav III. the Red-haired
        • Jaromir the Eunuch
        • Václav the Infantdead
        • Oldrich
          • Břetislav I. Achilles
            • Spytihněv II.
            • Vratislav II.
              • Bretislav II.
              • Judith of Bohemia
              • Borivoj II.
              • Vladislav I.
                • Vladislav II.
                  • Bedrich
                  • Otakar I
                    • Wenceslas I
                    • Queen Dagmar of Dennmark
                  • Vladislav III Henry
                • Henry
                  • Bretislav III. Henry (Henry Bretislav)
              • Sobeslav I.
                • Sobeslav II. the Peasant
                • Wenceslas II.
            • Bishop Jaromir
            • Konrad I. of Brno and Znojmo
              • Konrad of Brno
              • Litolt of Znojmo
                • Konrad of Znojmo
                  • Konrad II. Ota of Brno and Znojmo
            • Otto of Olomouc
              • Otto II the Black
              • Svatopluk
      • Abbess Mlada
      • Dobrava m. Mieszko I of Poland
      • Legendist Christian

Family tree of Elisabeth of Bohemia + Jagiellonians + Habsburgs

See also

External links



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