Prague, the mother of all cities; Part VI, the 18th and 19th centuries
July 10th 2008 03:59
The 18th century
The aftermath of the Thirty years war was a bleak and troubled period for Prague. Although the Peace of Westphalia had officially ended the war, the Holy Roman Empire was weakened and the power of the Habsburghs diminished. Foreign powers continued to meddle in, occupy and besiege Prague until the end of the 17th century and well into the 18th. In 1689, a fire, said to have been started by French agents, raged through the city and destroyed much of it. Still, Bohemia was beginning to recover. A promising economic climate attracted a new influx of migrants. Restoration of the city began. New and reconstructed buildings in the contemporary Baroque style added flamboyant, novel features and accents to Mediaeval and Renaissance Prague. The Empress Maria Theresa’s Baroque additions to Prague Castle are an example.
Bohemia’s economic rise continued into the 18th century. Once more, merchants and businessmen flooded into Bohemia and most particularly into Prague. But still there were unsettled wartime affairs. Fortifications, a sign of a community not quite at ease, had been part of the Baroque city rebuild. The Czech lands were of great strategic importance and European Powers vied to gain a foothold and to seize the territory from the weakened and largely absent Hasburghs. From 1741 to 1742 French troops occupied Prague and in 1744 Prussian troops seized control. The Habsburghs wrested it from them. There were severe reprisals. In 1745 Maria Theresa of Austria, alleging collaboration with the Prussians, expelled the Jews from Prague which was a severe blow to the large, long established and flourishing community. In 1748 the Jews were allowed to return to Prague. However, after a few short years of peace, the Prussians beseiged the city in 1757. The seige was eventually broken and In 1770, new Baroque gates were fashioned for Prague Castle, a moral exemplum, ostensibly depicting the bloodthirsty clash of the Titans but subtly suggesting the triumph of the Habsburghs over their enemies.
Despite all the upheaval, the country continued to prosper and the steady stream of immigrants continued apace. By 1771, the population numbered 80,000. Many were wealthy businessmen, merchants and noblemen who enriched Prague with a host of Baroque palaces, churches and gardens. Soon Prague’s unique Baroque architecture was known throughout the world.
In 1781, the new Emperor Joseph II, issued the Edict of Tolerance, granting political and religious rights to religious minorities and the population rose again as many of the descendants of families who had fled following the Battle of White Mountain or during the Thirty Years War, returned. In 1784 Joseph II united the four independent urban areas of Old Town, Malá Strana, Hradcany and New Town and Prague became a substantial city. Josefov, the Jewish Ghetto, however was not included at this stage. Also in 1784, the national revival began and the Czech nationalist organisation known as Narodní obrození was born. After centuries in the shadow, Czech language, culture and national identity were revived and Czech literature blossomed.
19th century
The19th century brought sweeping changes to Bohemia. In 1806 Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and the Emperor Francis II abdicated his title, becoming Francis I Emperor of Austria. The Industrial Revolution began. Its effect on Prague was enormous. Profiting from the proximity to coal mines and ironworks factories proliferated outside the fortified city. People flooded in from the countryside. In 1817, the first suburb, Karlin was created. It was followed by Liben, Holesovice, Smichov, Kralovske, Vinohradny and Zizkov. By 1837, the population had reached 100,000. In 1845 the first railway connection between Vienna and Prague was established, opening the floodgates for products and people. The 1848 Revolution which had caused upheaval all over Europe touched Prague too, but here it was severely repressed. Once again, the Jewish community came under suspicion and the gates of the Ghetto were thrown open. In 1850, Joseph was finally added to Prague’s historical centre.
The city was growing and changing rapidly. The fortifications between the Old and New Towns were demolished, the fortress moat was filled and a new promenade road was built around the city. An embankment was built along the Vltava River. New public buildings rose along here, all built in the Neo-Renaissance style. In 1874 most of the Baroque fortifications and their bastions were taken down.
The National Revival swept through country. Institutions were established to celebrate the Czech history and culture: the National Theater opened in 1868 and the National Museum in 1890. In the following years the Czech nationalist movement began to rise, in opposition to the German Nationalist movement, until it gained the majority in the town council in 1861.
In 1867 the Emperor Francis Josef I established the Austro Hungarian Dual Monarchy of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. Once again Bohemia was part of a larger, stronger entity. But although it had still not achieved autonomy, Czech nationalism was strong. The Czech state's time was yet to come. It continued to strengthen and ready itself.
The aftermath of the Thirty years war was a bleak and troubled period for Prague. Although the Peace of Westphalia had officially ended the war, the Holy Roman Empire was weakened and the power of the Habsburghs diminished. Foreign powers continued to meddle in, occupy and besiege Prague until the end of the 17th century and well into the 18th. In 1689, a fire, said to have been started by French agents, raged through the city and destroyed much of it. Still, Bohemia was beginning to recover. A promising economic climate attracted a new influx of migrants. Restoration of the city began. New and reconstructed buildings in the contemporary Baroque style added flamboyant, novel features and accents to Mediaeval and Renaissance Prague. The Empress Maria Theresa’s Baroque additions to Prague Castle are an example.
Baroque buildings at Prague Castle
Bohemia’s economic rise continued into the 18th century. Once more, merchants and businessmen flooded into Bohemia and most particularly into Prague. But still there were unsettled wartime affairs. Fortifications, a sign of a community not quite at ease, had been part of the Baroque city rebuild. The Czech lands were of great strategic importance and European Powers vied to gain a foothold and to seize the territory from the weakened and largely absent Hasburghs. From 1741 to 1742 French troops occupied Prague and in 1744 Prussian troops seized control. The Habsburghs wrested it from them. There were severe reprisals. In 1745 Maria Theresa of Austria, alleging collaboration with the Prussians, expelled the Jews from Prague which was a severe blow to the large, long established and flourishing community. In 1748 the Jews were allowed to return to Prague. However, after a few short years of peace, the Prussians beseiged the city in 1757. The seige was eventually broken and In 1770, new Baroque gates were fashioned for Prague Castle, a moral exemplum, ostensibly depicting the bloodthirsty clash of the Titans but subtly suggesting the triumph of the Habsburghs over their enemies.
The gates of Prague Castle
Despite all the upheaval, the country continued to prosper and the steady stream of immigrants continued apace. By 1771, the population numbered 80,000. Many were wealthy businessmen, merchants and noblemen who enriched Prague with a host of Baroque palaces, churches and gardens. Soon Prague’s unique Baroque architecture was known throughout the world.
In 1781, the new Emperor Joseph II, issued the Edict of Tolerance, granting political and religious rights to religious minorities and the population rose again as many of the descendants of families who had fled following the Battle of White Mountain or during the Thirty Years War, returned. In 1784 Joseph II united the four independent urban areas of Old Town, Malá Strana, Hradcany and New Town and Prague became a substantial city. Josefov, the Jewish Ghetto, however was not included at this stage. Also in 1784, the national revival began and the Czech nationalist organisation known as Narodní obrození was born. After centuries in the shadow, Czech language, culture and national identity were revived and Czech literature blossomed.
Baroque Prague
19th century
The19th century brought sweeping changes to Bohemia. In 1806 Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and the Emperor Francis II abdicated his title, becoming Francis I Emperor of Austria. The Industrial Revolution began. Its effect on Prague was enormous. Profiting from the proximity to coal mines and ironworks factories proliferated outside the fortified city. People flooded in from the countryside. In 1817, the first suburb, Karlin was created. It was followed by Liben, Holesovice, Smichov, Kralovske, Vinohradny and Zizkov. By 1837, the population had reached 100,000. In 1845 the first railway connection between Vienna and Prague was established, opening the floodgates for products and people. The 1848 Revolution which had caused upheaval all over Europe touched Prague too, but here it was severely repressed. Once again, the Jewish community came under suspicion and the gates of the Ghetto were thrown open. In 1850, Joseph was finally added to Prague’s historical centre.
A grand building on the Prague Embankment
The city was growing and changing rapidly. The fortifications between the Old and New Towns were demolished, the fortress moat was filled and a new promenade road was built around the city. An embankment was built along the Vltava River. New public buildings rose along here, all built in the Neo-Renaissance style. In 1874 most of the Baroque fortifications and their bastions were taken down.
Neo-Renaissance Prague
The National Revival swept through country. Institutions were established to celebrate the Czech history and culture: the National Theater opened in 1868 and the National Museum in 1890. In the following years the Czech nationalist movement began to rise, in opposition to the German Nationalist movement, until it gained the majority in the town council in 1861.
The National Museum at the end of Wenceslas Square
In 1867 the Emperor Francis Josef I established the Austro Hungarian Dual Monarchy of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. Once again Bohemia was part of a larger, stronger entity. But although it had still not achieved autonomy, Czech nationalism was strong. The Czech state's time was yet to come. It continued to strengthen and ready itself.
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