700Th Anniversary of the Wedding of John of Luxembourg and Elisabeth of Premyslides
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700 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEDDING OF JOHN OF LUXEMBOURG AND EL ISABETH OF PREMYS L IDES 700 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEDDING OF JOHN OF LUXEMBOURG AND EL ISABETH OF PREMYS L IDES On the occasion of the issue of a silver coin commemorating the 700th anniversary of the royal marriage of John of Luxembourg and Elisabeth of Premyslides and the accession of the Luxembourg dynasty to the Czech throne, the Czech National Bank has issued 500 copies of these brochures. Author: Naďa Kubů, Ph. D. Graphic design: Jáchym Šerých Photographs from the National Heritage Institute Prague, 2010 Naďa Kubů, Ph. D. 700th Anniversary of the Wedding of John of Luxembourg and Elisabeth of Premyslides The year 2010 is the 700th anniver- After the death of the last mem- sary of the accession of the Lux- ber of the ruling family of Premys- embourg dynasty to the throne of lides Wenceslas III († 1306) the Bo- Bohemia; their members, each in hemian parliament met to decide their different way, but definitive- on a new king. The session of the ly, inscribed themselves into the parliament respected dynastic re- history of the Czech kingdom. lationships and inheritance law of the Premyslides in the female line. The ancient, though at first not The daughters of Wenceslas II so significant, family of Luxem- – Anna, Elisabeth and Margaret bourg traced its origin from Sieg- from Wenceslas’s first marriage fried, who lived in the 10th centu- with Judith (Guta) Habsburg, but ry, and who in 963 secured from also Anežka (Agnes of Bohemia), the monastery St. Maximin de daughter of Elisabeth Richeza Trêves (Trier), ownership of the of Poland (Eliška Rejčka) – were castle of Luxembourg. Despite dy- principally entitled to lay claim to nastic problems, when the Luxem- the succession. In this period the bourg heritage was passed down only unmarried one, except for through the female line, they the one-year old Anežka, was Elis- worked their way up in Europe- abeth. However the Czech crown an politics, and in 1308, thanks could also be passed to the wid- also to the influence of the French owed queens. court, Henry VII of Luxembourg (1274–1313) was elected as King of The Czech Estates negotiated the Romans, and in 1312 crowned in this spirit, and decided that as Holy Roman Emperor. the new Bohemian king would Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII of Luxembourg 3 become Rudolf of Habsburg came Henry VII of Luxembourg, (1281 –1307) alongside the queen with close contacts to the French Elisabeth Richeza, his new wife king Philip the Fair. Henry has and the widow of Wenceslas II. several siblings, one of which, Bal- The reign of Rudolf of Habsburg, duin (1285–1354), achieved a great nicknamed “král kaše – king por- ecclestical career as Archbishop ridge”, lasted only a few months. of Trier, and one of the Electors who decided the vote on the King His successor became Henry VI of the Romans. The wife of Hen- of Carinthia (1265–1335), former ry VII of Luxembourg became Bailiff and husband of Anna of Margaret of Brabant, with whom Premyslides, the eldest daughter of he had five children. Their daugh- Wenceslas II. Henry was crowned ters were betrothed to significant in 1307 by the Břevnov abbot European rulers; the eldest Bea- Bavor of Nečtiny, but not even trix became the wife of the Hun- his reign succeeded in stabilising garian king Robert of d’Anjou; the situation in Bohemia. The not another daughter Marie became too capable Henry did not endear the French queen (with whom himself or achieve great popularity Charles IV was later raised). in the Czech lands. In December 1310 Henry of Carinthia and his In this uncertain atmosphere, cul- wife Anna were obliged to leave minating in an uprising by Prague Prague castle, and even Bohemia, patricians against the nobility whence they never returned. with the aim of sharing power in However, despite the early death the country, the idea germinated of Anna of Premyslides in 1313 to offer the Czech royal crown to and their childless marriage he the Luxembourgs. The son of the continued to use the title of King King of the Romans Henry VII – of Bohemia until his death. John of Luxembourg – seemed to be a suitable candidate. The situation in Europe in this pe- riod was not very straightforward. The first born son of Henry VII In 1308 the King of the Romans of Luxembourg and Margaret Albrecht of Habsburg had been of Brabant John of Luxembourg murdered, and the new king be- (1296–1346) was raised at the John of Luxembourg 5 French royal court; in Paris he vis- send his only son John to a coun- sites. He even had diplomats from delegation headed again by the ited the university there and re- try, which had internal divisions. the King of the Romans, includ- Cistercian abbots, but above all by ceived an all-round education. He tried to suggest another mem- ing Peter of Aspelt, the Archbish- the important nobles Jan of Var- Church officials, especially from ber of the Luxembourg family as op of Mainz, who were sojourning temberg, Bohuslav of Švamberg Cistercian monasteries, were the bridegroom for the inheritance of in Bohemia, captured. However and others, to the seat of Empire; primary pillar for the election of Elisabeth of Premyslides, for ex- this interference provoked a defin- rich patricians were also represent- a Czech king. The Abbot of the ample his brother Waleram, in his itive rupture between Henry VII ed. The legation arrived in Frank- Zbraslav monastery Konrád was time somewhat notorious for his of Luxembourg and Henry of furt am Main in June 1310, where also able to convince Elisabeth of libertine lifestyle. This idea did Carinthia. Further Czech nobles at the time a general Imperial par- Premyslides (1292–1330), daugh- not go down well with the Czech gradually came over to Henry VII liament was taking place. ter of the Czech king Wenceslas II legation. of Luxembourg’s side. In Prague and Judith (Guta) of Habsburg, in open military clashes between the The legation was given a friendly this period practically the only po- At the beginning of the year 1310 supporters of Henry of Carinthia welcome, because as the chronicler tential wife for the future king, to the Czech side, fortified this time and squads of Bohemian nobili- Peter von Zittau noted, the King of consider a Luxembourg candida- also with representatives of the ty eventually developed, during the Romans was well aware of the ture. Abbot Konrád then became nobility, led further part of the which the Carinthian side was de- reason for their arrival. A magnif- the main person involved in nego- negotiations with Henry VII of feated. icent feast was organised, which tiating on her behalf. Luxembourg. Konrád, the Ab- lasted the whole day, and only af- bot of Zbraslav and Heidenreich, On 29 June 1310 a provincial assem- terwards did they get down to the A delegation of Czech prelates set the Abbot of Sedlec prepared the bly was called, to which Elisabeth negotiations at hand. Once again out for the court of Henry VII of meeting; however the participa- of Premyslides was also famous- Henry offered his brother Waler- Luxembourg, who was supposed- tion and viewpoint of the Czech ly brought; she had to secretly es- am as a candidate for the Czech ly at first surprised by the Czech nobility was important. Jindřich cape from Prague beforehand. The throne and husband for Elisa- suggestions. He did not consider of Rožmberg, Albrecht of Žeberg main aim of the assembly’s negoti- beth. Perhaps he was overly appre- it advantageous to push for the re- and Fridrich of Šumburg were ations was the deposition of Hen- hensive about his only son John, moval of Henry of Carinthia from present on their behalf. A record ry of Carinthia from the Czech who was but 14 years old, had a the Czech throne, and further- of the meeting has been preserved, throne. However even at this point soft French upbringing and didn’t more he was concentrating on his documented in a deed from 31 Jan- the Bohemian nobility was not in speak Czech. Henry was also nerv- own enthronment to the the Im- uary 1310. unison, and the King of the Ro- ous about the insecure Czech en- perial crown, which would elevate mans, Henry VII of Luxembourg, vironment, the disunity of the no- his personal majesty. With regard When Henry of Carinthia found still wavered with his agreement bles there, and thus wavered. to Bohemia, an extinct fiefdom, he out about this meeting he called to the alliance of Elisabeth of Pre- had no interest in acknowledging military reinforcements from Car- myslides with his son John. Fur- However the Czech delegation its right to the election of their own inthia to Bohemia, and occupied ther negotiations continued. The negotiated consistently and diplo- leader, and also he did not want to Prague castle and further strategic assembly despatched a 12-member matically. Peter of Aspelt, who had 6 7 already previously served under dition of Hynek Krušina of Lich- Speyer with the wedding of Elis- wife, as everyone advised, the heir King Wenceslas II, undoubtedly tenburg and Markvart of Zvířetic. abeth and John, which was con- of that kingdom. Righteousness played a significant role. Thanks secrated by the Archbishops of thus entailed that this kingdom to his endeavours and diplomatic On 25 August 1310 Elisabeth of Mainz and Cologne. adopted from the Empire in fief procedure the alliance of John of Premyslides was finally introduced also the title and name.