#king ottokar ii

[mrdirtybear]

The tomb of of the Bohemian king King Ottokar II (1233-1278), second son of Wenseslas I. Also known as the Iron and Golden King, he was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. He reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his death in 1278. He also held the titles of Margrave of Moravia from 1247, Duke of Austria from 1251, and Duke of Styria from 1260, as well as Duke of Carinthia and landgrave of Carniola from 1269. Power was like that in the Holy Roman Empire. 

[illustratus]

Wenceslas asks Rudolf of Habsburg for the body of his father King Ottokar II of Bohemia

by Anton Petter

[bignaz8]

Houska Castle

According to folklore, Houska Castle, located in Blatce, north of Prague in the Czech Republic, is built over a "bottomless" hole that leads to Hell. One legend claims that in the 13th century, King Ottokar II of Bohemia (or else a nobleman of the Dubá clan) offered a pardon to any condemned prisoner who consented to be lowered into the pit and report what he saw. The first prisoner lasted only a few seconds before he began screaming. When he was pulled back up, the story goes, his hair had turned white, and it seemed he'd aged 30 years—and he babbled incoherently about half-human creatures who flapped through the darkness on grotesque wings.

The castle was built, likely on Ottokar II's orders, over this supposed hell-hole, without proper fortifications, a water source, or kitchens. The myth asserts that this was because the castle was meant not for human habitation but to capture demons. (The chapel was supposed to be actual portion of the fortress erected directly over the Gate of Hell.)

The fortress was, however, used as an administrative building, has been used as an aristocratic residence at various points in its history, and was renovated and expanded during the Renaissance. The castle's current owners trade on the building's hellish reputation, setting it up as a spooky tourist attraction.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (March 2)

Agnes of Bohemia, also known as Agnes of Prague, was born in Prague on 20 January 1211.

She was the daughter of King Ottocar I of Bohemia and Constance of Hungary, who was a relative of St. Elizabeth.

At an early age, she was sent to the monastery of Treinitz where she was educated in the hands of the Cistercian religious who would eventually become her rank.

She was betrothed to Henry, son of the Emperor Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, but when the time arrived for the solemnization of the marriage, they backed out of the agreement.

Ottokar then planned for Agnes to marry Henry III of England, but this was vetoed by the Emperor, who wanted to marry Agnes himself.

She then dedicated herself to the resolution of consecrating herself to the service of God in the sanctuary of the cloister.

Emperor Frederick is said to have remarked:

"If she had left me for a mortal man, I would have taken vengeance with the sword, but I cannot take offence because in preference to me, she has chosen the King of Heaven."

The servant of God entered the Order of St. Clare in the monastery of St. Saviour at Prague, which she herself had erected.

She was elected abbess of the monastery. Through this office, she became a model of Christian virtue and religious observance for all.

God favored her with the gift of miracles, and she predicted the victory of her brother Wenceslaus over the Duke of Austria.

Agnes lived out her life in the cloister, leading the monastery as abbess until her death on 2 March 1282.

She was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1874 and canonized by Pope John Paul II on 12 November 1989.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.17 (before 1840)

310 – Pope Eusebius dies, possibly from a hunger strike, shortly after being banished by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily. 682 – Pope Leo II begins his pontificate. 986 – Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Battle of the Gates of Trajan: The Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Samuel and Aron defeat the Byzantine forces at the Gate of Trajan, with Byzantine Emperor Basil II barely escaping. 1186 – Georgenberg Pact: Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria and Leopold V, Duke of Austria sign a heritage agreement in which Ottokar gives his duchy to Leopold and to his son Frederick under the stipulation that Austria and Styria would henceforth remain undivided. 1386 – Karl Topia, the ruler of Princedom of Albania forges an alliance with the Republic of Venice, committing to participate in all wars of the Republic and receiving coastal protection against the Ottomans in return. 1424 – Hundred Years' War: Battle of Verneuil: An English force under John, Duke of Bedford defeats a larger French army under Jean II, Duke of Alençon, John Stewart, and Earl Archibald of Douglas. 1488 – Konrad Bitz, the Bishop of Turku, marks the date of his preface to Missale Aboense, the oldest known book of Finland. 1498 – Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, becomes the first person in history to resign the cardinalate; later that same day, King Louis XII of France names him Duke of Valentinois. 1549 – Battle of Sampford Courtenay: The Prayer Book Rebellion is quashed in England. 1560 – The Catholic Church is overthrown and Protestantism is established as the national religion in Scotland. 1585 – Eighty Years' War: Siege of Antwerp: Antwerp is captured by Spanish forces under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, who orders Protestants to leave the city and as a result over half of the 100,000 inhabitants flee to the northern provinces. 1585 – A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh under the charge of Ralph Lane lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. 1597 – Islands Voyage: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail on an expedition to the Azores. 1668 – The magnitude 8.0 North Anatolia earthquake causes 8,000 deaths in northern Anatolia, Ottoman Empire. 1717 – Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18: The month-long Siege of Belgrade ends with Prince Eugene of Savoy's Austrian troops capturing the city from the Ottoman Empire. 1723 – Ioan Giurgiu Patachi becomes Bishop of Făgăraș and is festively installed in his position at the St. Nicolas Cathedral in Făgăraș, after being formally confirmed earlier by Pope Clement XI. 1740 – Pope Benedict XIV, previously known as Prospero Lambertini, succeeds Clement XII as the 247th Pope. 1784 – Classical composer Luigi Boccherini receives a pay rise of 12,000 reals from his employer, the Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón. 1798 – The Vietnamese Catholics report a Marian apparition in Quảng Trị, an event which is called Our Lady of La Vang. 1807 – Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat leaves New York City for Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world. 1808 – The Finnish War: The Battle of Alavus is fought. 1827 – Dutch King William I and Pope Leo XII sign concord. 1836 – British parliament accepts registration of births, marriages and deaths.

[traineesnfromb]

Špilberk: a fortress full of stories and breathtaking views

The Špilberk Fortress rises majestically high above Brno, a fascinating testimony to centuries of history. My walk begins at the foot of the hill, surrounded by well-tended parks that invite you to linger.

The ascent is a relaxing walk for all the senses. With every step, an increasingly impressive view over the city reveals itself. The various roofs of the old town form a wonderful contrast to the modern cityscape.

Once at the top, a breathtaking 360-degree panorama rewards the effort of the climb. The fortress itself impresses with its imposing architecture, which harmoniously combines different eras.

Founded in the 13th century by King Přemysl Ottokar II, Špilberk initially served as a royal castle and residence of Moravian margraves. The robust walls tell of turbulent times when the fortress was reinforced in the 17th century to protect against Ottoman attacks and rebuilt into a Baroque fortress.

Špilberk's history is fascinating: from a royal castle to a mighty Baroque fortress to today's living museum. Every stone tells stories of kings, brave defenders and cultural heritage.

[venicepearl]

Záviš of Falkenstein (c. 1250 – 24 August 1290), a member of the noble house of Vítkovci, was a Bohemian noble and opponent of King Ottokar II.

[jaydeemedia]

[ad_1] Sometimes you arrive somewhere, gawp a little bit too much, and then admit it’s worth the hype. For me, that place was Český Krumlov, a real-life fairytale town – complete with a castle, of course – in Czechia’s (Czech Republic) South Bohemia region. But perhaps I’m not the first person to tell you how magical this river-hugging chateau-crowned spot is? Certainly, many people had showered me with stories of their love-at-first-sight meeting with this mediaeval marvel. Though if anything, that had actually put me off visiting. That’s not to say the Czech Republic hasn’t long held a special place in my heart. Prague was the first city break I took my mum on as a finally-earning-money adult. Karlovy Vary was the city where I had my first thermal spa getaway. Kutna Hora is where I learnt that churches can be coated with bones. And last year, in Brno, I discovered just how fine Czechia’s wines could be. But I’d always purposefully bypassed South Bohemia. I didn’t believe Český Krumlov could actually be worth that much hype while not being totally overrun with fellow tourists. However, with the country celebrating its 30th birthday this year – and indeed, it being the 15-year anniversary of my own first trip to the country – I found myself back, this time passing through South Bohemia while overlanding from Italy to the Baltic States. So I decided to stay a while and turn my trip into a long weekend in South Bohemia, and wow, am I glad I did! This region, rich in ponds, lakes, castles, and cute towns, left me in awe; my only regret was not staying longer. Looking up: the State Chateau of Hluboká České Budějovice My journey in South Bohemia didn’t start in Český Krumlov but rather in the regional capital city of České Budějovice – a very intentional choice. Recommended to me by a friend from Prague as a more lived-in example of Bohemian life (plus much more affordable accommodation), I made this underrated city my base for the four days I spent hopping between the other cute towns and fabled castles of South Bohemia. With a well-connected bus and train station, everywhere that I wanted to visit could be reached in less than an hour. But that’s not to say České Budějovice doesn’t deserve its own in-depth visit. Just this month, it was announced that the city would be one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2028. Dating back to its original founding in 1265 by the then Bohemian king, Ottokar II, the mediaeval city is rich in South Bohemian culture. Presiding over the regional museum, a vast and photogenic town square, and a varied history of production from porcelain to pencils, the laid-back location is further enhanced by the meeting of two rivers: the Vltava and Malše. It’s also just a short drive or bus ride from the mighty Hluboká Castle. However, the city has another side beyond the Baroque-style architecture and mirror-like lakes. Known as Budweis in German (the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire prior to WWI), České Budějovice has been home to the similarly named Budweiser Budvar beer brewery since 1895. One of many famous brewers in the world – and one of many in the Czech Republic – you can take a tour and, more importantly, a tasting in the brewery itself.  České Budějovice will be the European Capital of Culture in 2028 Top three things to do in České Budějovice, South Bohemia Explore the Old Town’s highlightsČeské Budějovice is easily explored on foot, and many of the main attractions can be found leading away from the extensive Přemysla Otakara II Square. See the 18th-century Samson Fountain in the middle, peek inside the Baroque town hall, and climb the 16th-century Black Tower for views across the city. Visit the Museum of South BohemiaPerhaps the most important museum in the region, this grand building houses a fascinating collection of provincial artefacts and interactive displays. With the information in English,

you can easily start to understand the region’s history and see some well-preserved examples of traditional life alongside more generic natural history collections. Enjoy beers in the Budweiser BreweryBook a tour and tasting of one of the world’s most famous breweries, located just a short walk from the city centre. State Chateau of Hluboká Before this trip to South Bohemia, I hadn’t even heard of the State Chateau of Hluboká, one of Europe’s most impressive Romantic castles and a very easy half-day trip from České Budějovice. Constructed as a royal seat in the 13th century, the building changed appearance many times. Falling into private hands in the late 18th century, the chateau has had two major redesigns since, firstly in the Baroque style and then later in its current Romantic reconstruction. Thankfully, the state recovered ownership of Hluboká Chateau after the end of WWII, and its gorgeous gardens, impressive and lavish halls, and panoramic towers are now open to the public again. Most of the castles and palaces in South Bohemia and the Czech Republic have very strict no photography rules in the interior rooms, hence why you’ll mainly only see photos of the grand exteriors online. However, you can usually take photography from the towers and areas outside of the interior rooms and halls. The State Chateau of Hluboká is one of the most impressive in the country Opting for one of the four tour options – this also seems very commonplace in the Czech Republic, where you need to book (sometimes in advance) timeslot-defined guided tours to the part of the building which interests you most – I was swept away for an hour of history. With teardrop chandeliers, portraits of royalty, and ornately decorated wood-panelled rooms aplenty, the interior is magnificent as you’d expect. Having added the tower to my ticket option, I could climb the deer-head-decorated staircase up to Hluboká’s highest point. From here, the small town below, backed by dense forests, looked like a pop-up book, while a network of lakes near and far added cerulean splodges to the panorama. Top three things to do in Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemia Tour the State Chateau of HlubokáThe grounds and exterior of the chateau are free to enter and open to all, while a ticket for the tower costs a few euros. To enter the building, you’ll need to book a tour (available in a few different languages), and if you’re coming in the summer, it’s best to reserve your time slot online in advance. There are a few different tours to choose from (Private Apartments, Kitchen or the impressive Representative Rooms) – if you have the budget to do all three, great, but I was more than happy with my singular tour and tower ticket. Stroll through the town of Hluboká nad VltavouThe State Chateau isn’t tucked away from the real world anymore and is actually amidst the town of Hluboká nad Vltavou. Small, pretty and with plenty of great coffee shops, it’s worth walking around the town after you descend from the castle to peek into the two churches and take a coffee. Walk or boat around the Munický Rybník lakeFrom the top of the tower, it’s this expansive lake which stands out most. You can take a boat out on the lake or just walk around it and enjoy a picnic for lunch – I found it surprisingly calm, given how popular the chateau is. Český Krumlov is a true fairytale in South Bohemia Český Krumlov Arguably South Bohemia’s crowning glory, and now one of the most popular places to visit in all of the Czech Republic, Český Krumlov is a literal fairytale. Like I said, I had been dubious about visiting since I saw the explosion of gorgeous photos on Instagram in recent years. Yet, arriving on a warm summer’s day in July, I was pleased to see that Český Krumlov was far from overrun, and that was on a weekend. Wrapped inside a horse-shoe-shaped section of the Vltava River, the mediaeval Old Town is storybook personified.

Cobbled streets, colourful squares, and soaring towers all add to the painting-like panorama, while the impressive 13th-century castle overlooks it all from a high. But the castle’s appearance has changed greatly since its first construction. The impressive Renaissance extension was constructed in the 16th century, while the unique aqueduct-like Cloak Bridge was built in the 18th century, replacing an earlier wooden structure. Regardless of dates, it’s mighty impressive and holds the title of the second largest castle in the country after Prague – no mean feat given the much smaller size of Český Krumlov  Inside, it’s equally lavish, with elegant carriages and upscale furniture decorating the ornate halls, complete with detailed wall paintings and frescoed ceilings. There’s also an incredibly well-preserved and restored Baroque Theatre, one of only two in Europe still preserved in this style, visitable with a separate ticket. Beyond the hulking castle complex and pretty gardens, the rest of the Old Town unfurls in its shadow. Gorgeous at every turn, I can see why this has become one of the country’s most popular day trips, but there are still plenty of excellent independent bars – both along the river and down side streets – to enjoy a perfect pint of craft beer. At one of those spots, Bistro 53 Beer Point, I was lucky enough to meet a local rafting guide Michal, who I had read about in an article about the city’s over-tourism problems before arrival. He told me all about his rafting company, which uses the same traditional boats and methods as the old production rafts from the 11th century. With a Na zdraví, as we clinked glasses, I ended my day with a smile, happy to see that ancient traditions and conversations were still very much alive in this busy corner of South Bohemia. Top three things to do in Český Krumlov, South Bohemia Tour the State Castle of Český Krumlov and the gardens There are five different tours you can take inside the castle, which can all be booked online in advance if you want to guarantee entry. The grounds are free to enter; however, the tower ticket is combined with the Castle Museum.  Enjoy some river rafting in the summerGiven Michal’s great beer banter, I’ve got to give a particular shout-out to his traditional rafting company, Voroplavba. These flat timber rafts have been a tradition of the Vltava River for nearly one thousand years, and it’s a great way to see the city from the water. Alternatively, pack rafts and kayaks give another way to loop the Old Town by water. Get lost in the Old TownWalking around the Old Town here is a photographer’s dream, with plenty of museums covering everything from art to torture. Bragging numerous amazing viewpoints, such as Seminární Zahrada, the tower, or the raised area near the bus station, Český Krumlov looks good from all angles. After you’ve had your fill of cobbled streets and river strolls, settle in on one of the floating pontoons with deck chairs for a refreshing brew. Třeboň’s colourful and quaint main square Třeboň Surrounded by artificial lakes and fishing ponds, quaint Třeboň is perhaps Czechia’s perfect countryside city. Getting off the bus from České Budějovice, I made a beeline for the Spolský Potok lake, tracking the shore and canals before entering Třeboň Old Town via the historic gates. One of South Bohemia’s historic spa towns, Třeboň is a popular getaway for locals looking to recharge and reconnect with nature. That’s not to say the city is without storied architecture, and the 12th-century Gothic Saint Giles Church and Renaissance-style State Chateau of Trebon are two of the standouts. Entered via an enclosed courtyard, the chateau operates in the same style as others in the region, with three different tours to choose from. One will guide you through the more impressive Rosenberg interiors, while the others, which I didn’t experience, enter the Schwarzenberg suites or the stables.

For me, Třeboň was more of a standout for the cobbled streets and natural walks nearby, and I’m glad I made time to squeeze a visit into my last day before continuing to Prague. The State Chateau of Třeboň Top three things to do in Třeboň, South Bohemia Tour the State Chateau of TřeboňThree types of guided tours are offered through the chateau, and tickets can be purchased online in advance. However, this is less visited than some of the region’s other castles, so you likely don’t need to book as far ahead.   Stroll along the canals and lakesTřeboň’s ‘Golden Network of Canals’ and carp-loaded lakes and ponds were Middle Ages engineering marvels. From the back of the town, you can track the canal out towards the lake, where in summer, boats and watersport rentals are available. The Dům Štěpánka Netolického museum explains more about the pond system. Explore the Old TownQuaint and compact, Třeboň’s Old Town highlights can be visited in a couple of hours. Above the market square, the Old Town Hall’s tower provides the best views in the city, and the historic Saint Giles Church is worth a peek. Or, just chill out in the Regent Brewery with a local brew. South Bohemia is sprinkled with thousands of ponds and lakes The Lakes Beyond South Bohemia is so much more than castles and cute towns, though, and this region is famed for something else: ponds and lakes. Since the 12th century, numerous bodies of water have been established and created, both for fishing and recreational use. This makes South Bohemia a fantastic summer getaway – especially in a landlocked country – as you can cool down, take a dip, or enjoy watersports. With plenty of dense forests and untouched corners, it’s a natural paradise for long leisurely hikes or even cycling between some of the Czech Republic’s most impressive castles on canopy-covered tracks. Some of the most impressive clutches of ponds are found around Třeboň, where a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protected the canals, ponds and flooded plains, which were established back in the 15th century. Nowadays, they fit into the scenery like a perfectly sized glove, but plenty of years of hard work went into creating these bodies of water, with historic engineering techniques re-shaping the landscape. However you spend your time in South Bohemia, my biggest advice is to not just come on a day trip to Český Krumlov from Prague. There is plenty of history and heritage to explore in the region other than the most famous chateau, and I can’t tell you how nice it was to experience the Czech Republic beyond the big cities and see the nation’s more natural side. If you have longer than I did, you might also want to check out the beer-heavy city of Plzeň (Pilsen), the various tree walkways such as Lipno, or seek out even more castles – there are plenty of Europe’s hidden gems to be found in South Bohemia. Pin it: South Bohemia’s Fairytale Towns I visited the Czech Republic as part of my own big trip through Europe this summer and was subsequently invited to write this article by the tourism board as part of the country’s 30th-anniversary campaign, #Czechia30, highlighting regional experiences. [ad_2] Source link

[aajkaakhbaar]

Prague Travel Guide and Things to do in Prague

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Prague is also one of the safest European cities and has a rich history. It was founded on the banks of the Vltava River by Bohemian Kings Ottokar II, and later became a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1918, after World War I ended, Prague became an independent nation and quickly became known as one of the most beautiful European cities thanks to its architecture, art galleries, and museums that were established during this time period. Today we will guide some things you should do if you are searching for a guided tour or visiting Prague for the first time.

[bookishdiary]

Actors and their favourite Books II

These answers are taken from BBC's Desert Island Discs

George Clooney - War and Peace by Tolstoy

Anthony Hopkins - The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald

Martin Freeman - Animal Farm by Orwell

Lin Manuel Miranda - Moby Dick by Melville

Christopher Lee - The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White

Hugh Grant - King Ottokar's Sceptre by Herge

Nicole Kidman - Poems of Emily Dickinson

Chris Evans - A Christmas Carol by Dickens

Emma Thompson - Homer's Odyssey

Mark Gatiss - The complete Sherlock Holmes

[ellynneversweet]

Whichever side of the ‘Dante counts as fanfic’ debate you fall on, you’ll think better with a coffee in hand. These mugs feature a mashup of mid-century paperback and contemporary site design and two original logos, overlaid with meme-tastic summaries of The Divine Comedy in four versions (Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, and Omnibus) that should not under any circumstances be mistaken for study guides. Available on Redbubble.

Additional pictures and transcriptions of the back text below the cut:

Inferno Part 1 of The Divine Comedy Dante_Alighieri The Bible, Classical Rome RPF, Greek Mythology

   Dante Alighieri&Publius Vergilius Maro, Paolo Malatesta/Francesca da Polenta,  Dante Alighieri (OC), Virgil,  Homer, Charon, Lucifer, Ulysses, Diomedes, Nimrod, Cerberus, Jason (The Argonautica), Julius Caesar, Judas Iscariot, Brutus, Cassius, King Minos, Thaïs, Nicholas III, Brunetto Latini, Farinata degli Uberti, Pietro della Vigna, Count Ugolino, Archbishop Ruggieri of Pisa, Filippo Argenti, Ezzelino III da Romano, Guido da Montefeltro, Bertrand de Born, Master Adam of Brescia, Mordred (Arthuriana), Ganelon (The Song of Roland) burn book poetry, afterlife!au, philosophy, theology, self-insert protagonist, everyone you love is dead, ensemble cast spanning all of recorded history, angst, damnation, torture, gore, vore, BEES, hell freezing over, demonic possession, rains of fire and rivers of blood, shapeshifting, rocks fall everyone’s already dead, dead dove do not eat, never meet your idols, rap battles, cool motive still adultery, in which the author borrows heavily from Aristotle, Boniface VIII has sacred offices if you have coin, calling out the Church, author doesn't believe in the Church's Temporal Power and will die on that hill, demonic ass-trumpets, suspiciously specific prophecy, Florence is empty and all the assholes are in Hell, Pisa’s magistrates are as crooked as their bell tower, face God (until He twists your head around) and walk backwards into Hell, abseiling off Satan’s back hair, stars in their multitudes

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

Lost in the woods on Good Friday, Dante encounters a ghost.

Purgatorio Part 2 of The Divine Comedy Dante_Alighieri The Bible, Classical Rome RPF, Greek Mythology 

  Dante Alighieri&Publius Vergilius Maro, Dante Alighieri/Beatrice Portinari Dante Alighieri (OC), Virgil, Beatrice Portinari, Cato the Younger, Manfred of Sicily, Belacqua (OC), Rudolph I, Ottokar II, Philip the Bold, Henry III, Currado Malaspina, Nino Visconti, Oderisi of Gubbio, Guido del Duca, Marco Lombardo, Adrian V, Hugh the Great, Statius, Forese Donati, Bonagiunta Orbicciani,  Guido Guinizelli,  Arnaut Daniel, Cimabue  burn book poetry, afterlife!au, philosophy, theology, self-insert protagonist, everyone you love is dead, ensemble cast spanning all of recorded history, waiting for God(ot), making amends, saints and sinners, redemption, courtly love, confession, second chances, hurt/comfort, mountain climbing, spiritual boot-camp, it’s not technically torture if they don’t have a corporeal form, but being told to walk through a wall of fire is still pretty alarming, student surpassing the master, in which the author posits that sin is just love inverted, pride vs humility, envy vs generosity, wrath vs meekness, sloth vs zeal, avarice vs moderation, gluttony vs temperence, lust vs chastity, suspiciously specific prophecy, magically-induced memory loss, gardening in Eden, stars in their multitudes

As ants, in their dark company, will touch their muzzles, each to each, perhaps to seek news of their fortunes and their journeyings.

Dante and Virgil come to the shore of Purgatory at dawn, and once more start to climb. Dante learns of challenges he has yet to face, and rediscovers a love he’d thought lost forever. 

Paradiso Part 3 of The Divine Comedy Dante_Alighieri Dante Alighieri/Beatrice Portinari

  Dante Alighieri, Beatrice Portinari, Piccarda Donati, Constance I of Sicily, Justinian I, Charles Martel of Anjou, Cunizza da Romano, Folquet de Marseilles, St Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus, Gratian, Peter Lombard, King Solomon, Dionysius the Areopagite, Orosius, Boethius, Isadore of Seville, The Venerable Bede, Richard of Saint Victor, Siger of Brabant, St Bonaventure, Cacciaguida, Joshua, Judas Maccabeus, Charlemagne, Roland (The Song of Roland), Godfrey of Bouillon, King David, Hezekiah, Trajan, Constantine I, William II of Sicily, Ripheus the Trojan (The Aeneid), Peter Damian, The Virgin Mary, Peter the Apostle, St James the Greater, John the Apostle, St Bernard, The Everlasting Gardener burn book poetry, afterlife!au, philosophy, theology, self-insert protagonist, everyone you love is dead, ensemble cast spanning all of recorded history, suspiciously specific prophecy, extensive discussion of virtue, Deus Ex Machina, HEA, meeting the man behind the curtain, revelation, further up and further in, all dogs go to heaven (except Cerberus), improbably large marching band formations, ineffable astronomy, O, swear not by the moon th' inconstant moon,  stars in their multitudes 

Loveliness which, even as we climb the steps of this eternal palace, blazes with more brightness; were it not tempered here, would be so brilliant that, as it flashed, your mortal faculty would seem a branch a lightning bolt has cracked.

Virgil returns to Limbo. Dante prepares to meet his Maker.

The Divine Comedy Dante_Alighieri the complete work: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso The Bible, Classical Rome RPF, Greek Mythology

Dante Alighieri&Publius Vergilius Maro, Paolo Malatesta/Francesca da Polenta, Dante Alighieri/Beatrice Portinari Dante Alighieri (OC), Virgil, Beatrice Portinari, Homer, Charon, Lucifer, Statius, Ulysses, Diomedes, Nimrod, Cerberus, Jason (The Argonautica), Julius Caesar, Judas, Brutus, Cassius, King Minos, Thaïs, Nicholas III, Brunetto Latini, Farinata degli Uberti, Pietro della Vigna, Count Ugolino, Archbishop Ruggieri of Pisa, Filippo Argenti, Ezzelino III da Romano, Guido da Montefeltro, Bertrand de Born, Master Adam of Brescia, Mordred (Arthuriana), Ganelon (The Song of Roland), Cato the Younger, Manfred of Sicily, Belacqua (OC), Rudolph I, Ottokar II, Philip the Bold, Henry III, Currado Malaspina, Nino Visconti, Oderisi of Gubbio, Guido del Duca, Marco Lombardo, Adrian V, Hugh the Great, Statius, Forese Donati, Bonagiunta Orbicciani,  Guido Guinizelli,  Arnaut Daniel, Cimabue,  Piccarda Donati, Constance I of Sicily, Justinian I, Charles Martel of Anjou, Cunizza da Romano, Folquet de Marseilles, St Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus, Gratian, Peter Lombard, King Solomon, Dionysius the Areopagite, Orosius, Boethius, Isadore of Seville, The Venerable Bede, Richard of Saint Victor, Siger of Brabant, St Bonaventure, Cacciaguida, Joshua, Judas Maccabeus, Charlemagne, Roland (The Song of Roland), Godfrey of Bouillon, King David, Hezekiah, Trajan, Constantine I, William II of Sicily, Ripheus the Trojan (The Aeneid), Peter Damian, The Virgin Mary, Peter the Apostle, St James the Greater, John the Apostle, St Bernard, The Everlasting Gardener burn book poetry, afterlife!au, philosophy, theology, self-insert protagonist, everyone you love is dead, ensemble cast spanning all of recorded history, angst, damnation, torture, gore, vore, BEES, hell freezing over, demonic possession, rains of fire and rivers of blood, shapeshifting, rocks fall everyone’s already dead, dead dove do not eat, never meet your idols, rap battles, cool motive still adultery, in which the author borrows heavily from Aristotle, Boniface VIII has sacred offices if you have coin, calling out the Church, author doesn't believe in the Church's Temporal Power and will die on that hill, demonic ass-trumpets, Florence is empty and all the assholes are in Hell, Pisa’s magistrates are as crooked as their bell tower, face God (until He twists your head around) and walk backwards into Hell, abseiling off Satan’s back hair, waiting for God(ot), making amends, saints and sinners, redemption, courtly love, confession, second chances, hurt/comfort, mountain climbing, spiritual boot-camp, it’s not technically torture if they don’t have a corporeal form, but being told to walk through a wall of fire is still pretty alarming, student surpassing the master, in which the author posits that sin is just love inverted, pride vs humility, envy vs generosity, wrath vs meekness, sloth vs zeal, avarice vs moderation, gluttony vs temperence, lust vs chastity, suspiciously specific prophecy, magically-induced memory loss, gardening in Eden, extensive discussion of virtue, Deus Ex Machina, HEA, meeting the man behind the curtain, revelation, further up and further in, all dogs go to heaven (except Cerberus), improbably large marching band formations, ineffable astronomy, O swear not by the moon th' inconstant moon,  stars in their multitudes 

[budapestbug]

Who was Bela IV, called also the second founder of the Hungarian Kingdom? His father’s, Andrew II's rule was so unpopular his son was crowned by a group of prominent noblemen in 1214, as co-ruler. In 1220 his father acquiesced and was appointed Bela to be Duke of Slavonia with control over Croatia and Dalmatia. After the Mongols invaded and destroyed much of the lands, Bela made decisions concerning rebuilding, following in the footsteps and philosophy of his grandfather, Bela III, that would win him the title of “second founder.” After Bela’s mother was murdered by conspirators 28 Sept 1213, his father executed only the leader and pardoned the remaining members, causing permanent estrangement between the two. After two years of marriage, Andrew convinced Bela to leave his wife Maria, but the Pope Honorius III refused to declare the marriage annulled. Bela took Maria and fled to Austria to avoid his father’s wrath. Eventually the Pope interceded between father and son, Bela took over control of Slavonia, Dalmatia and Croatia. One of Bela’s most interesting rules would be to have all the advisor’s seats burned so they would have to stand in the presence of their king. The unease between Bela and his father increased when Andrew married his third wife about 1198. His father died in 1235, Bela was crowned 14 October and accused his step-mother and his father’s advisor, Denis, of adultery, and had them both imprisoned. It is the twist of history, that two generations later on, in lack of male herits on direct line, the last member of the Arpad Dinasty came from this unfortunate third marriage of Bela's father. After his coronation Bela attempted to restore royal authority, which had diminished under his father. For this purpose, he revised his predecessors' land grants and reclaimed former royal estates, causing discontent among the noblemen and the prelates. The Mongols invaded Hungary and annihilated Béla's army in the Battle of Mohi on 11 April 1241. He escaped from the battlefield, but a Mongol detachment chased him from town to town as far as Trogir on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Although he survived the invasion, the Mongols devastated the country before their unexpected withdrawal in March 1242. Béla introduced radical reforms in order to prepare his kingdom for a second Mongol invasion. He allowed the barons and the prelates to erect stone fortresses and to set up their private armed forces. He promoted the development of fortified towns. During his reign, thousands of colonists arrived from the Holy Roman Empire, Poland and other neighboring regions to settle in the depopulated lands. Béla's efforts to rebuild his devastated country won him the epithet of "second founder of the state" (Hungarian: második honalapító). He set up a defensive alliance against the Mongols, which included Daniil Romanovich, Prince of Halych, Boleslaw the Chaste, Duke of Cracow and other Ruthenian and Polish princes. His allies supported him in occupying the Duchy of Styria in 1254, but it was lost to King Ottokar II of Bohemia six years later. During Béla's reign, a wide buffer zone—which included Bosnia, Barancs (Braničevo, Serbia) and other newly conquered regions—was established along the southern frontier of Hungary in the 1250s. Béla's relationship with his oldest son and heir, Stephen, became tense in the early 1260s, because the elderly king favored his daughter Anna and his youngest child, Béla, Duke of Slavonia. He was forced to cede the territories of the Kingdom of Hungary east of the river Danube to Stephen, which caused a civil war lasting until 1266. Nevertheless, Béla's family was famed for his piety: he died as a Franciscan tertiary, and the veneration of his three saintly daughters—Kunigunda, Yolanda, and Margaret—was confirmed by the Holy See.The church of his burial: Esztergom Franciscan Minorite Church, though from the Grave Mamorial nothing survived.

[lukeskywaker4ever]

3rd King of Portugal and of the Burgundy Dynasty: King Afonso II of Portugal, “The Fat”

Reign: 26 March 1211 – 25 March 1223 Predecessor: Sancho I

Afonso II, nicknamed the Fat (o Gordo), King of Portugal, was born in Coimbra on 23 April 1185 and died on 25 March 1223 in the same city. He was the second but eldest surviving son of Sancho I of Portugal by his wife, Dulce, Infanta of Aragon. Afonso succeeded his father on 27 March 1211.

As a king, Afonso II set a different approach of government. His father Sancho I and his grandfather Afonso I were mostly concerned with military issues either against the neighbouring Kingdom of Castile or against the Moorish lands in the south. Afonso did not pursue territory enlargement policies and managed to ensure peace with Castile during his reign. Despite this, some towns, like Alcácer do Sal in 1217, were conquered from the Moors by the private initiative of noblemen. This does not mean that he was a weak or somehow cowardly man. The first years of his reign were marked instead by internal disturbances between Afonso and his brothers and sisters. The king managed to keep security within Portuguese borders only by outlawing and exiling his kind.

Since military issues were not a government priority, Afonso established the state's administration and centralized power on himself. He designed the first set of Portuguese written laws. These were mainly concerned with private property, civil justice, and minting. Afonso also sent ambassadors to European kingdoms outside the Iberian Peninsula and began amicable commercial relations with most of them.

Other reforms included the always delicate matters with the pope. In order to get the independence of Portugal recognized by Rome, his grandfather, Afonso I, had to legislate an enormous number of privileges to the Church. These eventually created a state within the state. With Portugal's position as a country firmly established, Afonso II endeavoured to weaken the power of the clergy and to apply a portion of the enormous revenues of the Catholic Church to purposes of national utility. These actions led to a serious diplomatic conflict between the pope and Portugal. After being excommunicated for his audacities by Pope Honorius III, Afonso II promised to make amends to the church, but he died in Coimbra on 25 March 1223 before making any serious attempts to do so.

King Afonso was buried originally at the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra where his body remained for nearly ten years. His remains were transferred subsequently to Alcobaça Monastery, as he had stipulated in his will. He and his wife, Queen Urraca, were buried at its Royal Pantheon.

In 1206, he married his fourth cousin Infanta Urraca of Castile, daughter of Afonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England, both being descendants of King Alfonso VI of León. The offspring of this marriage were:

Infante Sancho (8 September 1207 – 4 January 1248), succeeded his father as Sancho II, 4th King of Portugal;

Infante Afonso (5 May 1210 – 16 February 1279), succeeded his brother Sancho as Afonso III, 5th King of Portugal;

Infanta Leonor (1211–1231). Married Valdemar the Young, son of Valdemar II of Denmark and Margaret of Bohemia, daughter of Ottokar I of Bohemia;

Infante Fernando (1218–1246), Lord of Serpa and married to Sancha Fernández de Lara with whom he had no issue. He was the father of an illegitimate son, Sancho Fernandes, prior of Santo Estêvão of Alfama.

Out of wedlock, he had two illegitimate sons:

João Afonso (d. 9 October 1234), buried in the Alcobaça monastery;

Pedro Afonso (d. after 1249). Accompanied his brother King Afonso in the conquest of Faro in 1249. He had an illegitimate daughter named Constança Peres.

[griffinrampant]

Czech Statehood Day

I had a few options for national days of the Czech Republic. As you can see, I ended up going with Czech Statehood Day, which commemorates the feast day of St. Wenceslaus, also known as Wenceslaus I or Good King Wenceslaus, who is the patron saint of the Czech Republic. (Sounds a little nicer than, “on this day, over a thousand years ago, the king got stabbed by his brother with a lance.”) Like many countries made up of numerous historical regions, the Czech coat of arms features three individual coats: Bohemia in the first and fourth quarters, Moravia in the second, and Silesia in the third. The full blazon is as follows: Per quarterly, I and IV, gules a lion rampant double-queued argent, armed, langued, and crowned or (Bohemia); II azure an eagle displayed chequy argent and gules, armed and crowned or (Moravia); III or an eagle displayed sable armed and langued gules, crowned of the field, charged with a cross couped issuant from a crescent argent (Lower Silesia). 

The first properly Czech state was the Duchy of Bohemia, which became part of the Great Moravian Empire around 830. Bohemia was established as a kingdom around 1198 by Ottokar I, and by 1300, the double-queued lion with the crown was firmly established as the arms of Bohemia. There’s a legend that in the 12th century, Emperor Frederick granted Vladislaus II the arms of gules a lion rampant argent to symbolize his valor, and the second tail was added later, as recognition for the military assistance Ottokar I provided against the Saxons. It’s a nice story, but it’s exactly the kind of unfalsifiable nice story that a lot of arms have, which is to say that it has the ring of a post hoc justification to me. In any case, the first depiction of these arms was in Gozzoburg Castle, which was probably built in the early- to mid-thirteenth century.

Not that the lion isn’t cool and all, but I can’t not mention the arms of the Přemyslid dynasty. They ruled Bohemia, first as dukes, then as kings, and other assorted parts of Eastern Europe for a good four and a half centuries. St. Wenceslaus, was a member, and their arms were a full-on FLAMING EAGLE. Er, argent an eagle displayed sable armed or enflamed gules. I will confess that, while I understand the desire to represent all the areas of the Czech Republic in the national arms to honor their unique histories and legacies, if I were designing these, I would not be able to resist the temptation of the flaming eagle. It’s just really cool! There are also some great myths around its origin, including one where Břetislav I gets the right to light his father-in-law’s lands on fire for some reason.

Ahem. Anyway. Moving on. Moravia (second quarter) got its start as Greater Moravia in 833; in the 890s, it covered a significant amount of territory and became known as the Great Moravian Empire. It was then promptly overrun by Magyars in 907. After Emperor Otto I defeated the Magyars in 955, Moravia found a second life as part of the Bohemian crown, and reached the status of a margraviate in 1182. The eagle chequy shows up shortly afterwards in 1233, on the seal of the Margrave Přemysl, a younger son of Ottokar I. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to assume this eagle might have some relation to the Přemyslid eagle, but it’s not completely clear. However it got there, it stayed pretty much the same until the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Some depictions have the chequy as or and gules, but it doesn’t seem like the distinction has any particular meaning.

Lastly, in the final quarter, are the arms of Lower Silesia, which we’ve touched on before. In my opinion, it’s far more justifiable on the Czech arms than on those of Liechtenstein, given that the Czech Republic does actually include parts of Silesia (though most of it falls in Poland). Silesia came under control of the Greater Moravian Empire sometime in the 9th century. It later passed to Poland and Germany before becoming part of the Crown of Bohemia in 1434. The exact ownership of Silesia fluctuated along with the rest of the borders in Eastern Europe, but it is today split between Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The Silesian arms date back to around 1335; they seem to have derived from the Duchy of Wroclaw. I’m not entirely sure where the eagle comes from, but honestly, there’s no shortage of eagles in this part of the world. Could be the Přemyslids; could be the Piasts; could be the Holy Roman Empire. In the absence of a direct blood tie (like there is with Moravia), it’s not clear.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.17 (before 1900)

310 – Pope Eusebius dies, possibly from a hunger strike, shortly after being banished by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily. 682 – Pope Leo II begins his pontificate. 986 – Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Battle of the Gates of Trajan: The Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Samuel and Aron defeat the Byzantine forces at the Gate of Trajan, with Byzantine Emperor Basil II barely escaping. 1186 – Georgenberg Pact: Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria and Leopold V, Duke of Austria sign a heritage agreement in which Ottokar gives his duchy to Leopold and to his son Frederick under the stipulation that Austria and Styria would henceforth remain undivided. 1386 – Karl Topia, the ruler of Princedom of Albania forges an alliance with the Republic of Venice, committing to participate in all wars of the Republic and receiving coastal protection against the Ottomans in return. 1424 – Hundred Years' War: Battle of Verneuil. 1488 – Konrad Bitz, the Bishop of Turku, marks the date of his preface to Missale Aboense, the oldest known book of Finland. 1498 – Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, becomes the first person in history to resign the cardinalate; later that same day, King Louis XII of France names him Duke of Valentinois. 1549 – Battle of Sampford Courtenay: The Prayer Book Rebellion is quashed in England. 1560 – The Catholic Church is overthrown and Protestantism is established as the national religion in Scotland. 1585 – Eighty Years' War: Siege of Antwerp: Antwerp is captured by Spanish forces under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, who orders Protestants to leave the city and as a result over half of the 100,000 inhabitants flee to the northern provinces. 1585 – A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh under the charge of Ralph Lane lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. 1597 – Islands Voyage: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail on an expedition to the Azores. 1668 – The magnitude 8.0 North Anatolia earthquake causes 8,000 deaths in northern Anatolia, Ottoman Empire. 1717 – Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18: The month-long Siege of Belgrade ends with Prince Eugene of Savoy's Austrian troops capturing the city from the Ottoman Empire. 1723 – Ioan Giurgiu Patachi becomes Bishop of Făgăraș and is festively installed in his position at the St. Nicolas Cathedral in Făgăraș, after being formally confirmed earlier by Pope Clement XI. 1740 – Pope Benedict XIV, previously known as Prospero Lambertini, succeeds Clement XII as the 247th Pope. 1784 – Classical composer Luigi Boccherini receives a pay rise of 12,000 reals from his employer, the Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón. 1798 – The Vietnamese Catholics report a Marian apparition in Quảng Trị, an event which is called Our Lady of La Vang. 1807 – Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat leaves New York City for Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world. 1808 – The Finnish War: The Battle of Alavus is fought. 1827 – Dutch King William I and Pope Leo XII sign concord. 1836 – British parliament accepts registration of births, marriages and deaths. 1862 – American Indian Wars: The Dakota War of 1862 begins in Minnesota as Dakota warriors attack white settlements along the Minnesota River. 1863 – American Civil War: In Charleston, South Carolina, Union batteries and ships bombard Confederate-held Fort Sumter. 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Gainesville: Confederate forces defeat Union troops near Gainesville, Florida. 1866 – The Grand Duchy of Baden announces its withdrawal from the German Confederation and signs a treaty of peace and alliance with Prussia. 1876 – Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung, the last opera in his Ring cycle, premieres at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. 1896 – Bridget Driscoll became the first recorded case of a pedestrian killed in a collision with a motor car in the United Kingdom.

[elija-oc-art]

Obviously! It’s a rough look back to the early years of Cvetka

In the 6th centuty, Slavs began to settled in the Eastern Alps and occupying an area more than twice the size of Slovenia today. For the time being they appear to have been under the subjection of the Avars, while later they joined Samo's tribal union which was short-lived and ended after Samo's death in 658. The oldest medieval tribal polity formed in the Eastern Alps was Carantania, in the 8th century they came under Bavarian and Frankish rule, in the mean time the work of conversation to Christianity was also carried on.

Carantanians was not the only tribal union to form in the Early Middle Ages within the Slavic settled area in the Eastern Alps. Carniola which in 973 the March of Carniola March with its center in Kranj was first mentioned, later in 1040 separated from Carinthia (the name derives Carantania).

Since it's inception in 962 Slovene lands were within the Holy Roman Empire. In 13th century, after the death of Duke Ulrich III from the Sponheim family, his cousin Ottokar II the King of Bohemia obtained Carinthia and Carniola through an inheritance agreement and retained it in 1269 until 1275, while he and Rudolf of Habsburg embroiled in a dispute over his election as King of the Romans then in 1276 and forced to cede the lands to Rudolf and eventually Ottokar II died in the Battle on the Marchfeld in 1278.

Carinthia came into the hands of the Habsburg dynasty in 1279 while in 1286 Rudolf gave Carinthia as a hereditary fief to Meinhard of the Tyrol line of the Counts of Gorizia, as well as Carniola. After the death of Meinhard's son Henry (who was also briefly King of Bohemia from 1307-1319), Carniola and Carinthia were taken over by the Habsburgs in 1335. During Rudolf IV Duke of Austria's region, Carniola was de facto turned into a duchy in 1364 and Carinthia into an archduchy without an imperial charter in.

Counts of Celje, the most influential late medieval noble dynasty on the territory of present-day Slovenia risen as vassals of the Habsburg dukes of Styria. Through fortuitous politics and marriages they acquired much land, including a large portion in the Slovene lands. In 1436 they acquired the status of dukes of the Holy Roman Empire and the independent principality of Celje. With the death of Ulrich II (he was assassinated by the men of his rival Ladislas Hunyadi on 8 November in Belgrade) the male line of the Counts of Celje died out. After protracted wars for the Celje succession, the Habsburgs took over their lands, ruling them until the end of World War I.

A map of Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century shows location of Carniola and Carinthia, written in German. For example Krain is Carniola, located in today’s Slovenia with a small part of northwest Italy, while can be divided into 3 traditional regions of Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola and Inner Carniola; Kärnten is Carinthia, located in today's northern Slovenia and southern Austria and Laibach is Ljubljana. was the capital of the Duchy of Carniola and now it's the capital of Republic of Slovenia.

(xxxxx)

Note: There are several historical names were mentioned in this article, however the personification character with Cvetka as her human name would only represents Carniola back then.