JANA MAZÁČKOVÁ ROKŠTEJN CASTLE (CZECH REPUBLIC): ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES Rokštejn Castle is situated in the Bohemian- building development in the 19th and 20th centuries, -Moravian Highlands, 12 km to the southeast from are shifted onto a terrace below. During the 1950s the town of Jihlava. The settlement structure in this and 1960s amateur archaeological excavations were territory is recorded in written sources as late as the carried out in the castle area, whereby some of the 13th century, even though the left bank and some of exposed or destroyed features were reconstructed. the settlements on the right bank of the River Jih- Professional archaeological research at the locality lava south of the Rokštejn region were mentioned began with rescue excavations in 1981 and changed by written sources already in the 12th century (Fišer gradually into systematic research under the auspices 2001, pp. 33, 49); (Fig. 1). The castle was built on a of the Institute of Archaeology and Museology of the rocky gnarl flowed round by the Brtnice River; the Masaryk University in Brno.1 so-called lower ward and the bailey, destroyed by HISTORY OF THE CASTLE Only a few written mentions remained of the the above-mentioned deed from 1289. Persons named earliest phase of the castle. The origin of the castle Rutho or those with predicates “of Rutenstein” or “of is associated with the family of Střížov who was Střížov” appear again as late as the second and third probably related with the family of Hrutov, seated in decades of the 14th century. the nearby village of Kněžice undoubtedly already During the second half of the 13th century, maybe in 1222 (CDM V, pp. 224–227, No. 12; CDB II, pp. after 1270, Rutho of Rutenstein founded and built a 207–208, No. 222; CDM II, pp. 128–129, No. 124; stone castle, which was mentioned in 1289 (CDM CDB II, pp. 220–221, No. 232; CDM II, pp. 135–136, VII, pp. 776–777, No. 147; Měřínský 2007, pp. No. 136; CDB II, pp. 220–221, No. 232). Before and 16–17). In 1317 some Rutho, holding the office of shortly after the mid–13th century members of this Chamberlain of Moravia, appended his seal to a Hrutov family began to be installed in important of- deed on terms of colonisation and administration of fices within the margraviate. The office of castellan property in possession of Otto the Elder of Parz. Next or burgrave of Bítov or Znojmo castles was held by year already this Rutho was superseded in the office individual generations of this family. After Dietrich of Chamberlain of Moravia by Bernard of Cimburk. I, his son chamberlain Hruto followed, who was su- L. Hosák, the same way as L. Jan, identifies Rutho perseded in the office of chamberlain of Bítov for two years by his son Dietrich II. This Dietrich let draw up 1 The excavations are running within a research project titled a deed in 1289 on the handover of patronage of the “Interdisciplinary centre of research on prehistoric to high churches in Opatov and Moravany to Henry, provost medieval social structures” (MSM0021622427). At the local- ity also archaeology students are taught within the EU-Opera- from Kněžice (CDM VII, pp. 776–777, No. 147). The tion Program Education for Competitiveness 2.2 Education split off Střížov-branch of the family of Hrutov oc- in Modern Methods of Archaeological Practice: Activity 4 curs for the first time as the family of Ruthenstein in (Methods of archaeological prospecting and excavations). 255 JANA MAZÁČKOVÁ the Chamberlain with Rutho or Hruto of Rutenstein fact that Brtnice was mortgaged and at the time when (CDM V, p. 91, No. 285; CDM VI, p. 91, No. 118; both the testaments were written it was still mort- RBM III, p. 152, No. 371; Válka 1991, p. 83; Hosák gaged and probably did not form any joint demesne 1952, p. 148; Jan 2000, p. 187). Possible relation- with Rokštejn. The situation with the ownership of ship to the family of Rutenstein is indicated only by Brtnice and Rokštejn is not clear. During the 14th identical personal names. In 1325 in Prague Hruto of century these two holdings are not mentioned as a Rutenstein (Hrutho de Rutenstein) was allowed by joint property. Despite this, after the acquisition of King John of Luxembourg to sell the village of Chlu- Rokštejn Castle the two neighbouring properties of pice. The king purchased the village from Hruto for Rokštejn and Brtnice were united both geographi- Henry of Schenkenberg, who was husband of Hruto’s cally and in terms of their significance. daughter of unknown name. Hruto is reported to have On the basis of some indications in written sourc- obtained for this sale 250 Marks of silver, each of es the acquisition of the castle before the mid–14th them equivalent to 64 groschen (CDM VI, p. 221, century, already under the rule of Margrave Charles No. 285; RBM III, p. 420, No. 1078; Měřínský 2007, of Luxembourg, cannot be entirely excluded. Ac- p. 17). Some years later written sources mention cording to dendrodates obtained from both palaces, Ješek of Rutonštajn, who established a true alliance at that time already some crucial rebuilds of the cas- together with Otto of Martinice on 1 October 1339, tle and extensions of built-up area may have taken including joint movable and immovable property at place. However, the implementation of wood as Martinice and Rutonštajn as well as at other estates constructional and complementary material remains (RTT I, p. 409; Sedláček 2000, XV, p. 243). a question. Secondary application of timber is noth- Ješek appears in written sources still in 1359, ing exceptional. but the owner of family holdings with a possible At the end of the 14th century the castle passes residence at Střížov is already his son Ješek, who over into the hands of the Waldsteins, who buy out was referred to as “of Rutonštajn” and “of Střížov.” surrounding land holdings in 1399 and establish After the loss of Rokštejn the Střížov demesne com- a relatively extensive demesne with two castles prised the village of Střížov with the parish church, – Rokštejn and Sádek (ZDb VI, p. 99, No. 4; AČ VII, the village of Přímělkov with two mills and a timber p. 580, No. 27) (Fig. 2). castle, the village of Ozřetín and originally the entire Rokštejn appears among the holdings of the village of Komárovice where the property of Střížov Waldstein family still in 1465. The family’s pro- was later reduced to a single tract of land. In 1366 prietary policy changes after 1480. The Waldsteins the castle is mentioned as the margrave’s property begin to consolidate the Brtnice estate and buy out (CDM IX, p. 103, No. 127; RBM VII/1, p. 133, No. surrounding properties. At that time the existence of 205; CDM IX, pp. 323–325, No. 42; Měřínský 1988, the castle is no longer documented by any sources. pp. 71–77). The first family member in possession of the castle Somewhere before or during the first four months was Hynek of Waldstein, who was followed by Henry of the year 1359 the castle was acquired by the of Waldstein as the eldest among male descendants. Moravian margrave John Henry, who added it to He died approximately in 1422–1432/34. Afterwards his possessions. Rokštejn became a centre of the came his brother Zdeněk together with Henry’s sons relatively extensive margrave’s demesne and an im- Wenceslaus and John, who shared the family holdings portant support point of manorial power in Southwest of Rokštejn and Sádek. In 1444 a property settlement Moravia (CDM IX, p. 103, No. 127; RBM VII/1, p. was done between Zdeněk and Henry’s sons. The 133, No. 205; Měřínský 2007, pp. 18–19). Rokštejn Rokštejn estate was acquired by Zdeněk of Waldstein, is being mentioned together with Bzenec Castle and who also obtained the Sádek property when Henry’s the town of Bzenec in 1366 among bequests to John sons died (AČ IX, p. 273, No. 32). Henry’s younger son Procopius; in addition also the The source base referring to the 15th century be- towns and townships of Pohořelice, Ivančice, Stařeč, came enhanced by documents that were drawn up and Rouchovany, Höflein and Brtnice are named. In the sealed at Rokštejn. In the archive of the Rosenberg testament Rokštejn and Brtnice are treated separately, family a correspondence between Oldřich of Rosen- the same way as in 1371 when the possessions were berg and Zdeněk of Waldstein remained, related to inherited by John Soběslav (CDM IX, pp. 323–324, Zdeněk’s disputes with John of Hradec, who took No. 420; CDM X, pp. 137–142, No. 118; Mezník the side of Strakonice at the time of unrests between 1999, pp. 199–201). Separate treatment of Rokštejn the Poděbrady and Strakonice parties. Disputes be- and Brtnice in both of the testaments may refer to the tween the Strakonice and Poděbrady parties resulted 256 ROKŠTEJN CASTLE (CZECH REPUBLIC): ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES in an encounter of armies in the field near Buštěves, AČ XIV, p. 37, No. 1549; AČ XIV, p. 54, No. 1595; where also Zdeněk and his son John took part, and AČ III, p. 545, No. 558;2 Regesten p. 32, No. 169; ended with ratification of the Vildštajn agreement. Regesten p. 33, No. 179; Hoffmann–Křesadlo 1971, On 18 June 1450 Zdeněk of Waldstein put his seal p. 52, No. 165; Hoffmann–Křesadlo 1971, p. 54, No. onto an access letter to the Vildštajn agreement, 173; LCS IV, p.