Bohemian aristocracy in the times of Charles IV












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            By Jan Boukal


            The word “šlechta” – Czech for aristocracy or nobility – is based on the old German “slaht
            meaning a house, strain or origin. The origins of the aristocracy in the Lands of the Bohe

            date back to the early middle ages. We will probably not be entirely wrong stating that ou
            developed from the fighters for counts and kings who put the soldiers in charge of some of
            Often this property was taken over by the soldiers who later considered it their own. The 

            the property in the hands of the aristocrats was sanctioned by the codex Iura Conradi in 1
            of Charles IV, a nobleman had to prove his aristocratic origin and be a free holder of a p

            subject to the land law. The aristocratic origin was mainly proven by a visible sign inher
            ancestors – a coat of arms (Czech: erb, from the German verb erben = to inherit). Aristocr
            arms could be seen on seals, shields, standards, or architectural decorations of aristocra

            church buildings.
            We may assume that the aristocracy made about 2 % of Bohemian and Moravian population in t
            century. The historians still use a bit ahistoric and confusing terms upper and lower nobi

            contemporary terminology recognizes several categories: feudal lords, yeomen, thanes, knig
            The most important feudal houses of the Luxembourgian era include the lords of Rožmberk (R
            Wartenberg, Rýzmburk (Riesenburg), Svamberk, Šternberk (Sternberg) or Dubá. The members of

            houses were in charge of important offices, frequently present at the royal castle. In Pra
            or built spectacular houses to stay while in office. During Charles’s era, the lords had t
            castles built, such as Maidstein (Dívčí Kámen), Helfenburg near Bavorov, or Kost; these ca

            only their places of residence and economic centers of their domains but also fortresses a
            their power over the surrounding land. Nearby a residential castle, a town could have been
            lords were often also donors of monasteries and churches that in turn became their house n

            through signs and depicted coat of arms, also house memorials.
            During the reign of Charles IV, and decades later, the most powerful feudal house in Bohem
            of Rožmberk (Rosenberg). They rose to power in the early 14th century, having inherited co

            fortune from the deceased relatives – Lords of Krumlau. Peter I of Rosenberg married Viola
            widow of the king Wenceslas III. The marriage was facilitated by king John of Luxembourg, 
            of the mighty nobleman. Peter’s sons were given important offices in the court of Charles 

            had endless disputes with the king, struggling to strengthen their power and domain as muc
            In the 14th century, the Rosenbergs expanded outside their traditional territory in the So
            and acquired numerous estates in the western and central part of the land. Their property 

            documented in the “Rosenberg Urbar”, the oldest aristocratic urbar in our country.
             


            Compared to the feudal estates, the property of most knights and yeomen was small, and the
            power was close to zero in the 14th century. For example, they could only own a single vil
            modest fort. Many representatives of these groups lost their property for various reasons 

            problems, debts etc.), so they had to seek help from more powerful lords, offering their s
            caretakers, members of castle military staff etc. A considerable number of destitute arist
            criminals to avoid poverty.

            As this brief paper indicates, the aristocracy consisted of very different classes, in ter
            property and social status. While the lords participated in the government alongside the k
            yeomen were also considered aristocratic residents in the kingdom, but many of them – main

            capable individuals – weren’t really satisfied with their social and material situation. A
            change soon after Charles’s death. His son Wenceslas didn’t trust the lords much as they h
            several times, so he sought company of poorer aristocrats, and some of them took this oppo

            a stellar career in his service.

            Bibliography:


            BOBKOVÁ, Lenka – BARTLOVÁ, Milena. Velké dějiny zemí koruny české IVb. Praha-Litomyšl: Pas
            MACEK, Josef. Česká středověká šlechta. Praha: Argo, 1997.

            ŠIMŮNEK, Robert. Reprezentace české středověké šlechty. Praha: Argo, 2013.