SVÁRLIVÍ PŘEMYSLOVCI

The foundations of our statehood and the transformation of an insignificant, small Czech principality into a powerful European kingdom are linked to the Přemyslid dynasty, which ruled the Czech state for more than 400 years. Whilst some Přemyslid rulers were renowned as far-sighted, strong monarchs, others went down in history as the destroyers of their own domains. During the princely era, the country underwent three very profound crises, caused primarily by the rivalry and animosity amongst members of the ruling dynasty. Brother threatened brother; murderous attacks and assassinations were not uncommon within the family. In several instances, military clashes between relatives led almost to the annihilation of the dynasty and the collapse of the state. Not even the kingdom was spared a major crisis triggered by a dispute between a father and his power-hungry son. The roots, manifestations and consequences of the disputes amongst the Přemyslids will be explored in the next instalment of this mini-series of lectures. It will also focus on the fates of both the instigators and the victims of these individual ‘fratricidal’ conflicts. A lecture by Jaroslava Šiftová