#ottokar ii of bohemia

[roehenstart]

Ottokar II of Bohemia (1233-1278) by Adolf Liebscher.

[miapcain]

Hi! I found your blog just recently and I love the Vesnaposting - the art, the comics, the gifs from the game, all of it. I've got so many questions:

How did you got yourself interested in this time period? Why Bohemia? Where exactly could the castle be found? Do you plan to connect your story with some "greater events" from that time? Will your OCs travel a bit?

Please, continue with all of this. It looks great and I would also love to play the game one day!

Thank you very much for the questions! I love getting intricate and thought out things to answer, and I'm humbled you like it!

I've been a sort of amateur medievalist for a while now- I can't point specifically to when it started, but it might have been reading Pillars of the Earth as a teenager, or finding out that the town I grew up in had an important courthouse that was closed in the 1300s- that's a scale of time that overwhelmed me then, and still makes me feel a deal of frisson now. The 1200s specifically sit at an intersection of really cool stuff in central europe- it's right before Franziscanism spreads and shakes up the monastic system, Waldensian heretics were prefiguring how the church would later fracture (I feel they resemble specifically the czech utraquists in some of their stylings and beliefs), and the Pope was in open conflict with the holy roman emperor; On the political side, Friedrich II was nearing the end of his reign, and his death would lead to the interregnum, where the empire is effectively without an emperor for years on end; The Popponer dynasty is about to crumble in Austria, and the Lion of Prague Ottokar II Přemýsl is about to add all of Austria to the Bohemian Kingdom, interrupting the ongoing Ostsiedlung (German Eastern Colonization, for those who don't know), all to the backdrop of endless failing crusades. It's just before the Habsburgs gain greater relevance and europe slides into the rennaissance, in my mind putting an end to the "proper" middle ages.

I've been curious about Czechia for a long time; I was too young to really notice when the country joined the EU, but even years later, I remember grumbling that they were going to "ruin" us, by flooding our country with cheap labour or products or somesuch. It's always struck me as odd. That energy ended up getting redirected towards migrants from the near east in the 2010s, but it's stuck with me; Here's a country Austria has, in some form or another, struggled with for centuries, dominated terribly through to the very end of our wretched pitiful attempt at an 'empire,' tried to keep chunks of as recently as 100 years ago, and yet I didn't learn so much as a single thing about it in school. Austrian schooling is dead set on not mentioning a single thing between about 1500 to 1933 (and even then, we often gloss over just *how* enthusiastic a lot of austria was to participate in the holocaust and become part of germany- or how no real denazification took place after the war), and obviously reading any history at all immediately got me hooked on finding out more. History aside, I love the bohemian massif dearly; the rolling hills, deep shadowy forests, little brooks, misty autumns, distant alps, it's one of my favourite regions on earth; I grew up in southern upper austria, but studied near Freistadt, which is where I gathered a lot of reference material for Vesna.

The castle doesn't have an official location, but there is a general area: "north of Freistadt, east of Rožmberk." Here are some rough indications on a modern Vesna era map, a rennaissance map, and google maps:

4. Not to spoil anything, but yes- Franzesca's father, a Bavarian, is a true believer in the "stupor mundi" Frederick II, and the need to "germanize" the backward slavic populations of Bohemia; He detests Saint Václav and forbids castle servants from speaking czech. The timing of the events of Vesna is chosen very specifically to be ironic in this regard- but you'll see when we get there :P

5. Yes, at the very least you will get to see Vesna and friends in the Machlant, Rožmberk and Linz. Franzesca will travel to her family home of Innsbruck and to Normandy, and it's likely more will happen, depending on where the story goes.

Thank you again for the questions! I hope to be working on Vesna for a long time, if it stays interesting :)

[unknownworlds4]

Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic. This chapel in the Sedlec suburb of the city of Kutna Hora, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic is one of the most unique in the world: the interior is decorated entirely with human bones.

In the mid-12th century, a Catholic monastery was established in Kunta Hora by the Order of Cistercian Monks. It was the first Cistercian abbey in Bohemia and remained in operation until it was dissolved in 1783. In 1278, Henry - the Abbott of the Monastery - was sent to the Holy Land by King Ottokar II of Bohemia. There he collected soil from the area outside Jerusalem where Jesus was supposedly crucified. When he returned home, he scattered this holy soil in the Abby cemetery. Word of this pious act soon spread, making the cemetery a desirable place to be buried for people throughout Central Europe. This, in addition to the Black Death in the 14th century and the Hussite Wars in the 15th century, led to many thousands being buried in the cemetery, leading it to be vastly expanded. Around 1400, a new gothic cathedral was built on the cemetery grounds. The basement of this chapel was used as an ossuary - a vessel or site used for the storing of human remains. Over 40,000 bodies were exhumed to make room in the cemetery and their bones were placed in unorganized heaps within the ossuary.

In 1870, the Schwarzenberg family - a noble family that were patrons of the church - hired local woodcarver Frantisek Rint to organize the bones into a much more aesthetically pleasing arrangement. The results of his work are absolutely astounding. The decorations and furnishings of the chapel are made completely out of human bones. These decorations include four massive bell-shaped mounds, chandelier, an altar, a coat of arms of the House of Schwarzenberg, and a signature of Rint by the front entrance. The chapel has a earned the name "The Chruch of Bones" and receives as many as 200,000 visitors annually.

[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.

[venicepearl]

Kunigunde of Bohemia (January 1265 – 27 November 1321) was the eldest daughter of Ottokar II of Bohemia and his second wife, Kunigunda of Slavonia. She was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. She was Princess of Masovia by her marriage to Boleslaus II of Masovia and later became abbess of the St. George's Convent at Prague Castle.

[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.

[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. 

[cacatoto-2024]

Bruck an der Mur

Bruck an der Mur ialah sebuah kota di Bundesland Stiria, Austria. Kota ini terletak di pertemuan Sungai Mur dan Mürz. Kota ini didirikan oleh Raja Ottokar II dari Bohemia pada tahun 1263. Terdapat sebuah gereja berarsitektur Gothik peninggalan abad ke-15 di kota ini.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.26 (before 1900)

683 – Yazid I's army kills 11,000 people of Medina including notable Sahabas in Battle of al-Harrah. 1071 – The Seljuq Turks defeat the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, and soon gain control of most of Anatolia. 1278 – Ladislaus IV of Hungary and Rudolf I of Germany defeat Ottokar II of Bohemia in the Battle on the Marchfeld near Dürnkrut in (then) Moravia. 1303 – Chittorgarh falls to the Delhi Sultanate. 1346 – At the Battle of Crécy, an English army easily defeats a French one twice its size. 1444 – Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs: A vastly outnumbered force of Swiss Confederates is defeated by the Dauphin Louis (future Louis XI of France) and his army of 'Armagnacs' near Basel. 1542 – Francisco de Orellana crosses South America from Guayaquil on the Pacific coast to the mouth of the Amazon River on the Atlantic coast. 1642 – Dutch–Portuguese War: Second Battle of San Salvador: The Dutch force the Spanish garrison at San Salvador (modern day Keelung, Taiwan) to surrender, ending the short-lived Spanish colony on Formosa and replacing it with a new Dutch administration. 1648 – The Fronde: First Fronde: In the wake of the successful Battle of Lens, Cardinal Mazarin, Chief Minister of France, suddenly orders the arrest of the leaders of the Parlement of Paris, provoking the rest of Paris to break into insurrection and barricade the streets the next day. 1748 – The first Lutheran denomination in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, is founded in Philadelphia. 1767 – Jesuits all over Chile are arrested as the Spanish Empire suppresses the Society of Jesus. 1768 – Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMS Endeavour. 1778 – The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. 1789 – The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France. 1791 – John Fitch is granted a United States patent for the steamboat. 1810 – The former viceroy Santiago de Liniers of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata is executed after the defeat of his counter-revolution. 1813 – War of the Sixth Coalition: An impromptu battle takes place when French and Prussian-Russian forces accidentally run into each other near Liegnitz, Prussia (now Legnica, Poland). 1814 – Chilean War of Independence: Infighting between the rebel forces of José Miguel Carrera and Bernardo O'Higgins erupts in the Battle of Las Tres Acequias. 1833 – The great 1833 Kathmandu–Bihar earthquake causes major damage in Nepal, northern India and Tibet, a total of 500 people perish. 1849 – President Faustin Soulouque of the First Republic of Haiti has the Senate and Chamber of Deputies proclaim him the Emperor of Haiti, abolishing the Republic and inaugurating the Second Empire of Haiti. 1863 – The Swedish-language liberal newspaper Helsingfors Dagblad proposed the current blue-and-white cross flag as the flag of Finland. 1883 – The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.

[gonzalo-obes]

IMAGENES Y DATOS INTERESANTES DEL 26 DE AGOSTO DE 2024

Día Internacional de la Actriz y del Actor, Día Internacional contra el Dengue, Semana Mundial del Agua, Año Internacional de los Camélidos.

San Ginés, San Cesáreo de Arles, San Ireneo, San Alfredo, San Simplicio, San Víctor, San Zeferino y Nuestra Señora del Mar.

Tal día como hoy en el año 1990

Ocurre la matanza de Puerto Hurraco, en una pedanía de la provincia de Badajoz (España), en la que son asesinadas nueve personas y doce resultan heridas, como consecuencia de las rencillas entre dos familias rivales del pueblo.

1972

Con la presencia de 121 países y 10.088 deportistas, se inauguran en Munich (Alemania) las XVII Olimpiadas de la Era Moderna. Durante su transcurso, Septiembre Negro, grupo terrorista palestino, secuestrará a la delegación israelí asesinando a 2 de sus componentes y, tras un rescate desastroso, morirán 9 más. Los Juegos se clausurarán el 11 de septiembre. (Hace 52 años)

1896

En Filipinas estalla una sublevación contra el régimen colonial español cuando Andrés Bonifacio y un grupo de patriotas dan el grito de independencia, conocido como el "Grito de Balintawak". Este levantamiento será sofocado con rapidez, pero en días posteriores se sucederán combates contra las tropas españolas también en otros lugares que asimismo serán aplacados. Sin embargo, la sublevación comandada por el capitán municipal Emilio Aguinaldo, triunfará en la provincia de Cavite, al sureste de la bahía de Manila. (Hace 128 años)

1789

En Francia, la Asamblea adopta la Declaración de los Derechos del Hombre y del Ciudadano, inspirada en la declaración de independencia estadounidense de 1776, marcando el fin del Antiguo Régimen y el advenimiento de una nueva era. Se reconoce el derecho a la propiedad, a resistirse a la opresión, seguridad, igualdad, libertad... (Hace 235 años)

1346

Tiene lugar la batalla de Crécy (en Francia, al sur de Calais, en Normandía) en el contexto de la Guerra de los Cien Años, primera gran batalla de esta guerra, en la que el reducido ejército inglés del rey Eduardo III, formado por unos 16.000 hombres, aniquila una fuerza francesa muy superior constituida por los 30.000 soldados del rey Felipe VI de Francia. Durante esta batalla se hace uso del mortal arco inglés y se frena a la caballería francesa cuando intenta romper la línea de infantería inglesa. De Crécy, Eduardo III partirá hacia Calais, donde se rendirá al año siguente. (Hace 678 años)

1278

En Austria, en la batalla de Durnkrut junto al río Morava, el emperador alemán Rodolfo I vence al rey de bohemia Ottokar II que se resiste a perder sus territorios austríacos. Tras la victoria, Rodolfo ordena la muerte de Ottokar quedando Bohemia bajo su dominio. (Hace 746 años)

1071

En la Batalla de Manzikert (actual Turquía), los turcos selyúcidas bajo el mando de Alp Arslan derrotan a las tropas bizantinas y capturan al Emperador Romano IV Diógenes, que es llevado ante Alp Arslán que se muestra magnánimo en la victoria y lo deja en libertad tras firmar un tratado de paz en condiciones aceptables: Romano pagará un millón de monedas y entregará Manzikert, Edesa, Manjib y Antioquía, lo que supondrá el comienzo de la caída del Imperio Bizantino al abrir las puertas de Anatolia al empuje turco y la repoblación de numerosas zonas de Asia Menor. A cambio de esto, ambos imperios permanecerán en paz. Una vez fallecido Romano IV, Alp Arslam considerará que el trato acordado por ambos tras la batalla de Manzikert, habrá caducado y se sentirá liberado para continuar atacando al Imperio Bizantino. (Hace 953 años)

[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 Seminárn�� 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

[mist-the-wannabe-linguist]

Victor

Though originally he was named after the very not fictional Přemysl Ottokar II, the Iron and Golden King, King of Bohemia, Margrave of Moravia, Duke of Austria, Duke of Styria and Carinthia and landgrave of Carniola. Yes that was his full name. We ended up shortening it to Victor

all of my pets r named after fictional characters and i wanted to know how popular it was

[illustratus]

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

by Anton Petter

[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.

[venicepearl]

Dagmar of Bohemia (c. 1186 – 24 May 1212 in Ribe) was Queen of Denmark as the first spouse of King Valdemar II. She was the daughter of King Ottokar I of Bohemia and his first wife, Adelaide of Meissen.