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Přemyslid
dynasty |
|
Country |
|
Titles |
·
Duke of Olomouc ·
Duke of Brno ·
Duke of Znojmo ·
Duke of Opava ·
Duke of Racibórz ·
Duke of Münsterberg ·
Duke of Krnov ·
Margrave of Moravia ·
Margrave of Austria ·
Margrave of Styria ·
Margrave of Carinthia ·
Margrave of Carniola |
Founded |
867 |
Founder |
|
Final ruler |
|
Current head |
None, last heads according to legitimacy: ·
Royal branch: Wenceslaus III ·
Opavian branch: Valentin the Hunchbacked |
Cadet branches |
In order of seniority: ·
Bretislian ·
Conradian: ·
Znojmo branch (1035 - 1191) ·
Brno branch (1035 - 1200) ·
Olomouc branch (1045 - 1227) ·
Děpoltian branch (1123 - 1247) ·
Opavian branch (1255 - 1521) |
The Přemyslids (Czech: Přemyslovci, German: Premysliden, Polish: Przemyślidzi), were a Bohemian (Czech) royal dynasty which
reigned in Bohemia and Moravia (9th century–1306), and partly also in Hungary,Silesia, Austria and Poland. Subsequently, the
ruling House of Luxembourg (1310 - 1437) claimed title to the
crown of Bohemia through relation to Přemyslids. The House of
Habsburg (ruling 1526
- 1918) claimed title to the crown from its relation to all previously ruling
houses, including the House of Přemysl.
[hide]
·
1 The origins and growth of Přemyslid Dynasty
·
2 At the height of its power
·
6 Kings of Bohemia, Poland and Hungary, rulers of Austria
·
7 Dukes of Opava, Krnov, Ratibor and Münsterberg
·
8 Legacy
·
10 Family tree of Elisabeth of Bohemia and Jagiellonians and Habsburgs
Dynasty beginnings
date back to the 9th century[1] when Přemyslids ruled a tiny
principality around Prague and gradually conquered the region of Bohemia, conveniently
located in the Bohemian basin where it was not threatened by expansion of the Frankish Empire.
The first historically-documented Premyslid Duke was Bořivoj I (867).[1] In the following century,
Přemyslids also ruled over Silesia and founded the city ofWroclaw (German: Breslau), derived from the
name of a Bohemian duke Vratislaus I, father of Saint Wenceslaus. Under reign Prince Boleslaus I cruel (935) and his son Boleslaus II the Pious (972), the Přemyslids ruled
territory stretching to today's Belarus.[1] They controlled important trade
routes. In this time Czech Lands and Prague was an important seat for trading
where merchants from all of Europe settled, including many Jews, as recalled in
965 by the Hispano-Jewish merchant and traveller Ibrahim ibn Ya'qub. He Wrote
"Prague is a city from the stone, the richest of all states north of the
Alps." After their prominent rise, however, internal struggles within the
family began a decline in power, and, in 1002, the Polish king Boleslaus the Valiant occupied Prague.[1]Boleslav
III, son of Boleslav II, escape from the Bohemia and this is the start of
decades of confusion and anarchy.
The decline ended
during the reign of Prince Bretislaus I. He in turn looted Poland, including the cities of Krakow and Gniezno (1038), where he obtained
the relics of St. Adalbert. He sought establishment of
the Prague archbishopric and a royal title. His son and successor Vratislaus II became the first King of Bohemia
(1085).
Vratislav's son Sobeslaus I destroyed the Imperial army of King Lothar III in the Battle of Chlumec (1126). This allowed for a further
strengthening of Bohemia with a culmination during the reign of Vratislav's
nephew, King Vladislaus II (1158). Vladislav II founded many
monasteries and built the first stone bridge across the Vltava. But then internal
struggles again started the decline of the Přemyslids. Many different
leaders from the dynasty alternated on the Bohemian throne, leading to the
eventual bankruptcy. Upon his rise to the throne, Ottokar I began a series of changes that brought
Bohemia out of crisis, and began a period of success[1] that lasted for nearly 220 years.
Member of the Přemyslids dynasty: King Wenceslaus
II. Drawing by Jan Matejko
Ottokar I was elected as king in the year 1198
and was awarded a hereditary royal title. Thus began a significant growth of
the Přemyslids dynastic power. Ottokar's son KingWenceslaus I annexed Austria to Bohemia (1236).
There was also a large urban and crafts development.
By the end of the
13th century, the Přemyslids were one of the most powerful dynasties in
Central Europe.[2] King Přemysl Ottokar II, son of Wenceslas
I, earned the nickname "Iron and Golden King" because of his military
power and wealth.[1] After several victorious wars with the
Hungarian Kingdom, he acquired Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, thus spreading
the Bohemian territory to the Adriatic Sea.
They were so powerful that King Ottokar II aspired to the imperial crown of the Holy Roman
Empire. These aspirations started the conflict with House of
Habsburg, who were, until then, little-known princes. Their representative
Rudolf was elected as King of Romans. Ottokar II fought Rudolph in several
wars. In the Battle of Marchfeld (1278), Ottokar clashed with Imperial and
Hungarian armies. In addition, he was faced with the treachery of the Bohemian
nobility. He was killed in battle[1] and the Habsburgs acquired Austria,
retaining it until the 20th century.
His son, King Wenceslaus II come to Czech throne in year 1283.
Over time, thanks to deft diplomacy, he gained the Polish crown for himself and
the crown of Hungary for his son.[1] Wenceslas II formed a vast empire
stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Danube river and established numerous
cities, such as Plzeň in 1295. Bohemia became a wealthy
nation due to a large vein of silver discovered under Wenceslaus II.[1] He created the penny of Prague,[1] which was an important European
currency for centuries, and planned to build the first university in Central
Europe. The power and wealth of the Kingdom of Bohemia gave rise to great respect, but also
to hostility of European royal families.
The dynasty began
to collapse following after the untimely death of Wenceslaus II (1305), and the
assassination of his only son, Wenceslaus III in 1306, which brought about the end
to their rule.[1][2] On the distaff side, however, the
dynasty continued, and in 1355, Bohemian king Charles IV, the grandson of Wenceslaus II,
was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome.
The name of the
dynasty, according to Cosmas in his Chronica Boemorum (1119), comes from its legendary
founder, Přemysl, husband of Libuše.[3]
·
Nezamysl
·
Mnata
·
Vojen
·
Vnislav
·
Neklan
·
Hostivít
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.
·
Bořivoj I (c.870–889)
·
Spytihněv I (895–915)
·
Vratislaus I (915–921)
·
Saint Wenceslaus (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia) (921–935)
·
Boleslaus I the Cruel (935–972)
·
Boleslaus II the Pious (972–999)
·
Boleslaus III the Red-haired (999–1002)
·
Vladivoj (1002–1003)
·
Boleslaus III (1003)
·
Jaromír (1004–1012)
·
Ulrich (1012–1033)
·
Jaromír (1033–1034)
·
Ulrich (1034)
·
Bretislaus I (1035–1055)
·
Spytihněv II (1055–1061)
·
Vratislaus II (1061–1092), king (1085–1092) as Vratislav I.
·
Conrad I of Brno (1092)
·
Bretislaus II (1092–1100)
·
Bořivoj II (1101–1107)
·
Svatopluk (1107–1109)
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Vladislaus I (1109–1117)
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Bořivoj II (1117–1120)
·
Vladislaus I (1120–1125)
·
Sobeslaus I (1125–1140)
·
Vladislaus II (1140–1172), king (1158–1172) as Vladislaus I
·
Frederick (1172–1173)
·
Sobeslaus II (1173–1178)
·
Frederick (1178–1189)
·
Conrad II Otto (1189–1191)
·
Wenceslaus II (1191–1192)
·
Ottokar I (1192–1193)
·
Henry Bretislaus (1193–1197)
·
Vladislaus Henr) (1197)
·
Ottokar I (1197–1198)
Maximum extent of the kingdom under Ottokar II,
c. 1276
Bohemia was the
only princedom in the Holy Roman
Empire which was
raised to the status of kingdom prior to the Napoleonic wars.
The reason for this was strength: as soon as Bohemia overcame its civil strife,
the Czech duke became the principal ally for any candidate for the Imperial throne.
The emperor could, thus, use Bohemian forces to punish any rebels who were
Czech neighbours simply by raiding their lands. This is evinced by the
establishment, by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, of Prince Vratislaus II of Bohemia as the first king of Bohemia,
Vratislav I, in 1085. He was raised to this prominent position not very long
after his father Bretislaus pacified Bohemia after years of civil
conflict. The kingship was disputed whenever Czech internal conflict increased.
It was fixed, however, after the position of the emperor in Germany weakened.
In 1198, Duke Ottokar I again 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).
·
Ottokar I (1198–1230)
·
Wenceslaus I (1230–1253)
·
Ottokar II (1253–1278)
·
Wenceslaus II (1278–1305)
·
Wenceslaus III (1305–1306)
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 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.
·
Wenceslaus I (1300–1305)
·
Wenceslaus II (1305–1306), also King of Hungary (1301–1305) as Ladislaus V
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.
In 1269, Nicholas, bastard son of King Ottokar II
who was legitimized by pope Alexander IV in 1260, became duke of Opava.
In 1337, his son Nicholas II inherited Duchy of Ratibor.
His four sons divided the Duchy of Opava (Duchy of Ratibor was inherited only
by oldest John). Thus started the partition of once
unified land between the descendants of Nicholas II. In 1443 William, Duke of Opava gained the Duchy of Münsterberg, which was held by
Přemyslids to 1456. This line of Opavian Přemyslids ended in 1521,
with the death of Valentine, Duke of
Ratibor.
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 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 of the Premyslid Dukes and Kings of Bohemia
Bořivoj I. +
Saint Ludmila
·
Spytihněv I
·
Vratislav I
·
Saint Václav I
·
Boleslav I the Cruel
·
Boleslav II the Pious
·
Boleslav III the Red-haired
·
Jaromír the Eunuch
·
Václav the Infantdead
·
Oldřich
·
Břetislav I Achilles
·
Spytihněv II
·
Vratislav II
·
Břetislav II
·
Judith of Bohemia, mother of Boleslaus III of Poland
·
Bořivoj II
·
Vladislav I
·
Vladislav II
·
Bedřich
·
Ottokar I
·
Wenceslas I
·
Ottokar II the Golden and Iron
·
Wenceslas II
·
Wenceslas III d. 1306 as last male member of the royal Přemyslid
dynasty
·
Elisabeth of Bohemia (1292–1330) last member of the royal
Přemyslid dynasty
·
Nicholas I of Opavia started line of Dukes of Opava; died
out in 1521
·
Queen Dagmar of Dennmark, mother of Valdemar the Young
·
Vladislav III Henry
·
Henry
·
Břetislav III Henry (Henry Bretislav)
·
Soběslav I
·
Soběslav II. the Peasant
·
Wenceslas II
·
Bishop Jaromír
·
Konrád I of Brno and Znojmo (Conradian)
·
Konrád of Brno (Conradian, earlier Duke of Moravia)
·
Litolt of Znojmo (Conradian, earlier Duke of Moravia)
·
Oldřich of Brno (Cobradian, Duke of Moravia, part of
Brno)
·
Konrád of Znojmo (Conradian, erlier Duke of Moravia)
·
Konrád II Ota of Brno and Znojmo (Conradian)
·
Otto of Olomouc
·
Otto II the Black
·
Svatopluk
·
Abbess Mlada
·
Dobrava m. Mieszko I of Poland, ancestors of piast line in Poland, which includes
Boleslaw III above
·
Strachkvas Christian
·
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Bohemia
·
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and king of Bohemia
·
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor King of Hungary and Bohemia
·
Elisabeth of Luxemburg Queen of Hungary, Germany and Bohemia
·
Ladislaus the Posthumous King of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduke
of Austria
·
Elisabeth of Austria Queen of Poland
·
King Vladislas II of Bohemia and Hungary
·
King Louis II of Hungary and of Bohemia
·
Princess and Queen Anna of Bohemia and Hungary + Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia
·
Matthias
·
Joseph I
·
Marie Amalia + Charles III of Bavaria
·
Otto
·
·
Elisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg
1.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Přemyslid Dynasty". Czech
Republic Government. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
2.
^ a b "House of Přemysl".
Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
3.
^ Peter Demetz. Prague in Black
and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City. Hill and Wang,
1997. p. 3. ISBN
978-0-8090-1609-9
·
Full premyslid family tree (Czech)
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