Abstract: After the extinction of its oldest ruling dynasty, the Přemyslids (1306), the Kingdom of Bohemia witnessed a struggle for the throne, eventually gained by John the Blind (John Count of Luxembourg). In Czech history, his accession to the throne is inextricably linked with his marriage to Elizabeth (Eliška) of the Přemyslids, daughter of the previous king of Bohemia Wenceslas II., although the female right of succession cannot be fully demonstrated.

It was the Bohemian opposition against the ruling king, Henry of Carinthia, who called John, the son of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII, to the throne and arranged his marriage with princess Elizabeth. She had to be enough courageous and ambitious to stand up to the ruling king, her sister’s husband, and to embark on a journey to Speyer, to reach her future husband, without the protection of her relatives. We have but piecemeal information on her journey (mostly from the Chronicle of Zbraslav, called Chronicon Aulae regiae in Latin) and we can therefore only partially reconstruct it. Speyer is situated 530 km from Prague, a distance which the princess managed to cover in only ten days (14 to 24 August 1310), accompanied by a small suite, staying overnight most probably in commandries established by knight orders. For the last part of her journey, she was valiantly accompanied by the uncle of John, Walram of Luxembourg.

Abstract: John of Luxembourg became widely known as a legend, which authors of chronicles started to depict immediately after his death at Crécy. Until the 19th century, he was traditionally described as a valiant and loyal knight. However, research done in the last fifteen years changed this picture and shed a different light on it. John was undoubtedly an experienced warrior, but waging war was not his only activity. Latest research emphasizes especially his diplomatic skills. In the course of thirty-six years he in fact attempted thirty-six projects of marriage convenient for the Luxembourg dynasty. His policy within the Empire was dominated by his dream to acquire the imperial crown.
The article focuses mainly on John’s policies in the county of Luxembourg, where it was important to ensure tenancy of property and if possible, to expand its territory. It expanded successfully towards several of its neighbours, while in the case of Trier, it was only possible to defend the status quo. During his reign, he was one of the first counts in the Empire to use modern means of governance: being the first to use to large extent financial means (such as loans) in order to manage and develop his territorial possessions, or appointing ministerial clerks responsible for administrative tasks, giving preference, especially in financial administration, to competent burghers. He had the land urbarium updated and was the first to appoint a general tax collector for the whole county. Under the rule of his son Charles, the focal point of the dynasty shifted to central Europe and the county of Luxembourg became, to its own detriment, a less important land frequently used as a pledge.

Abstract: The Chronicle of Zbraslav (Chronicon Aulae Regiae) is traditionally considered as a reliable source by Czech historiographers. Nevertheless, latest research has shown that its author, Peter of Zittau, was far from being an altogether trustworthy writer as is until recently believed.

The study contains an analysis of literary means which Peter of Zittau uses to substantiate and justify the way in which Eliška (Elizabeth) of Bohemia from the House of Přemyslids gained the Bohemian throne. Under the rule of Henry of Carinthia, who became king chiefly because he was the husband of Anna, the eldest of Wenceslas II’s daughters, Eliška teamed up with Bohemian nobility who offered the throne of Bohemia as well as Eliška’s hand to Henry VII, to be given in marriage to his son, John the Luxembourg. Peter of Zittau transforms the struggle for the throne into a struggle for bonum commune of the Bohemian State. He denigrates Henry of Carinthia (among other means by using the topoi rex-tyrannus and rex-puer) as well as his wife, denying them their right to the throne and to the title of king. He considers Eliška, though younger of the two sisters, as the lawful or rightful heiress of the Kingdom, emphasizing her qualities typical of a future sovereign, and since her marriage to John of Luxembourg he consistently calls her Queen of Bohemia.

The description of the change on the throne of Bohemia in 1310 is a great example of the fact that history is written by the winners.

Abstract: The study deals with manifestations of favour towards the Church by members of the royal family in the lands of the Crown of Bohemia in 1310–1335. Among such manifestations there were acts of personal devotion and care for the posthumous memory of the ancestors, which at the same time became symbols of power and prestige. Preserving the memory of one’s ancestors was an important part of the legitimacy of the ruling monarch. The text focuses on activities of John the Blind, his wife Elizabeth, the queen-widow Elisabeth Richenza of Poland (Eliška Rejčka) and to a lesser extent also of the abbess Kunhuta. As for the king, the study also describes his activities in the county of Luxembourg. The most typical example of a favourable approach to the Church were gifts, be it property or rights. There were also confirmations of pre-existing rights, which however were often automatic and could not be unequivocally considered as manifestations of favour. As for John the Blind’s donations, they were of both economic and political character, as well as memorial and representative. Care for eternal memory and representation was also the chief motivation of the other royal members described.

Abstract: The study describes the background of the marriage of Charles IV and Anna of Schweidnitz, niece of Boleslav (Bolko) II, the only Silesian ruler who was not a vassal to the King of Bohemia. Analyzing narrative and diplomatic sources, the author reaches the conclusion that the third wedding of king Charles took place in Buda in June 1353, probably simultaneously with the wedding of Louis, King of Hungary, who already at the end of May gave up his claims to heritage after Boleslaus II, Duke of Schweidnitz. Due to an unplanned delay caused by the necessity to wait for the papal dispensation for the marriage, which was required because of the degree of relationship between the bride and groom, Charles IV left his wife-to-be at the Hungarian court. The books of the town of Brno show that he entrusted his younger brother with accompanying her to Prague. He himself hurried to Schweidnitz to support Bohemian claims to the Duchy of Schweidnitz-Jauer, by accepting certain disadvantageous conditions among which the necessity to postpone the takeover of the lands belonging to Bolko II.

Abstract: The study deals with twenty-four charters issued by Charles IV in the years 1357–1359, in which a duke called Petrus Borboniensis appears as a witness. Since no Duke of Bourbon named Peter lived at that time, the author asks whether the person in question might be Louis II, duke of Bourbon, son of Duke Peter I. She reaches the conclusion that it was him, indeed, putting forward the following arguments: she compares the data from the charters with Louis’ itinerary published in La Guerre de Cent Ans et le prince chevalier le Bon Duc Louis II de Bourbon (1337–1410) by O. Troubat (two volumes published in 2001 and 2003). She also supplements the itinerary with information on five or six stays of the Duke at the Imperial court, placing them in the context of the relations between France and the Empire of that period. It was Charles, French Regent and the Emperor’s nephew, son of John the Good and Bonne of Bohemia, who sent Louis II to the Emperor. Charles IV supported his nephew throughout those difficult times and thus shaped the political profile of the future king Charles the Wise. The study finishes with an explanation of the change of the Duke’s name.

Abstract: The first objective of the study is to introduce, based on sources until now unknown, the activities of one of the members of the patrician Stromer family from Nuremberg, Fridrich Stromer, in the years 1346–1377. The study also provides a broader context of how Fridrich, in his duty of notary of the chamber in the area of the former Přemyslid domain participated in financial, administrative and territorial integration strategies of Charles IV. At the same time, it is thanks to Fridrich Stromer and to the sources which mention him, that it was possible to change the approach to certain issues connected with the Karlštejn domain and to become more familiar, despite the lack of available sources, with the earliest times of its existence.

Abstract: The article, based on a diploma thesis Czech Princesses of the House of Luxembourg, depicts the life of Catherine of Luxembourg, second-born daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, Charles IV. The story of Catherine offers an insight into the life of highborn women in the 14th century. At an early age, she was promised to Rudolph the Habsbourg and aged seven, in line with tradition, she was sent to the Austrian court. Together with her husband Rudolph IV she ascended to the throne of the Duchy of Austria. Her income was provided from manors given to her in dowry. She kept her own court, issued charters, supported the Church as well as arts. After Rudolph’s death she was married for the second time to Otto V of Brandenburg. She assisted at the second coronation of Charles IV in Rome. During her life she was a daughter, wife and widow, the role of mother, however, being denied to her.

Abstract: At the end of the 11th century, Saint Ladislaus was one of the most distinguished monarchs of the Hungarian Árpád dynasty. Although he had already been canonized in 1192, the actual start of his cult dates back only to the 14th century. His cult was particularly supported by Louis the Great. By the 14th century, Ladislaus had become the chief patron saint of both the country and the reigning family. From the second half of that century, his figure appeared on the coins of the Hungarian kings as well. His tomb in Oradea/(Nagy)Várad gradually became the most significant place of worship and also a very popular destination of many pilgrims. It was Sigismund of Luxembourg who played a crucial role in the spread of the Saint’s cult and eventually was also buried in the cathedral of Oradea. Besides the relics of Ladislaus, other treasures have been preserved there: among others, the relic of Saint Sigismund, which was brought to Oradea during the first half of the 15th century from Prague.

Abstract: The text is dedicated to the work of Ch. Kleinert who wrote a vast biographical and prosopographic picture of the life of the Burgund knight Filibert de Montjeu. The author of the study follows Montjeu!s life from his studies in Paris, his career in both church and state administration up to his participation at the Council in Basel. The Council entrusted him with the task of dealing with the Bohemian issue, i.e. handling with the Hussites. The author tries to find out more about the personality of Filibert, who came to Bohemia to play an important role in the restoration of the Church after Sigismund of Luxembourg was acknowledged as the King of Bohemia. She evaluates the added value of the new biography and summarizes other information, found by Czech and German historiographers since the book was published. Kleinert mapped out the financial background of an ambassador of the Council during his mission to Bohemia. Finally, the author of the study suggests that it might be possible to find out how financial resources from Normandy (bishopric of Coutances) were spent in Bohemia.

Abstract: The article deals with Elisabeth of Luxembourg, queen of Bohemia and Hungary. After the death of her husband, Albrecht of Habsbourg, Elisabeth decided to struggle for the rights of the baby she was still expecting. After she gave birth to her son, Ladislaus the Posthumous, in February 1440, a civil war broke out between her supporters and the followers of Wladisław Jagiello, King of Poland. Both contenders for the throne were later crowned and thus Hungary had two kings at the same time: Ladislaus (1440–1457) and Wladisław (1440–1444). Wladisław’s coronation, however, was an unprecedented step as it openly demonstrated the superiority of the estates over the king. It was in fact only Ladislaus the Posthumous, the only son of the former King of Hungary, who was a legitimate successor to the throne.

After the rival king was crowned, Elisabeth settled in Bratislava (Pressburg) in June 1440, where she lived until her premature death in December 1442. Her situation was virtually hopeless – most Hungarian lords were against her, but still, with the help of Bohemian towns and the Czech Hussite mercenary Jan Jiskra, she managed to reverse the course of events.

In summer 1441, the Pope intervened in the conflict between Elisabeth and Wladisław, in an attempt to negotiate peace given the threat of the Turks. However, the talks broke up and the war continued for another year. It was only thanks to the intercession of the Pope’s ambassador Cardinal Cesarini that an agreement was finally reached in December 1442. Shortly after that, Elisabeth died unexpectedly. Written sources, especially the chamber accounts of the town of Prespurk, suggest that she may have been assassinated.

Abstract: From the twenties until the fifties of the 15th century, Michault Taillevent, courtier at the court of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, was known not only as the author of witty observations and lyrical poetry, but also of politically engaged works. One of the latter is a vast collection of poems on the topic of the conquest of Luxembourg by the Duke of Burgundy in 1443. The underlying idea is that of defending the rights of Elizabeth of Görlitz, described as a „poor and oppressed widow“. The author, who advocated traditional knightly values, found it very convenient to describe the duke as a protector of a weak and oppressed woman.

This work is an important source of information how war, peace and knightly duties were regarded at that time. Michault Taillevent emphasized the play of contrasts based on the name of the city of Luxembourg being allegedly derived from the Latin word „lux“. In his view, Luxembourg was therefore supposed to be a stronghold of light, but did not stand up to its name. Taillevent draws many of his comparisons and symbols from ancient mythology as well as from flora and fauna. Equally, his use of puns is remarkable. Poems by Michault Taillevent celebrating the events of 1443 give us an insight into the less explored spheres of political propaganda in the Middle Ages.