Prague, the mother of all cities; Part V, The Habsburgh Dynasty
July 8th 2008 01:49
When Ferdinand Habsburgh inherited the Bohemian throne, he moved the seat of power to Austria, where he reigned as Emperor. Prague, once the leading light of the Holy Roman Empire now became a mere outpost. However, Ferdinand spent considerable time here and invested a great deal in the city.. He brought the Renaissance way of life to the court and made several important additions to the Castle grounds. In 1534 he converted the vineyards which covered the surrounding hillsides into a beautiful Italianate garden. Designed by Giovanni Spatia it was filled with Mediterranean plants and trees such as oranges, lemons and the figs which still grow there today. Europe’s first tulips, brought from Turkey in 1554, were grown in the Royal Palace Garden. In 1563, Ferdinand completed the Royal Summer Residence for his wife Ann Jagellon, Sister of the previous King, Vladislav the Posthumous. The unique Renaissance building with its Gothic roof was designed by Paolo della Stella and Bonifac Wohlmut. The spectacular Singing Fountain in front of the residence was built in 1568. Ferdinand also established the Lion Court, where he housed a collection of exotic animals.
Ferdinand’s successor, his son Maximillian, continued to rule Prague from Vienna. However, he also continued Ferdinand’s work at Prague Palace. In 1569 the Royal Ball Game Hall, deslgned by Bonifac Wohlmart as a venue for Royal games and competitions was completed. Buildings were added to the Lion court. Today these house a restaurant which offers a magnificent view of St Vitus Cathedral. Maxmilian II added more precious and exotic plants to the Royal Garden, like the narcissi and bluebells which still grow there today.
In 1575, Rudolph II, son of Maximillian, was crowned Emperor. Rudolph was well-connected. Not only was he related to the Jagellon Dynasty, the Luxembourg Dynasty and the Premyslid Dynasty but also, through his great grandmother, “Mad Joan”, to the Spanish throne. In 1583 Rudolph moved the seat of the Empire back to Prague. He took up residence in Prague Castle and reconstructed it in the Renaissance style. The imperial court led the development of European Mannerism, and the city became a centre of Renaissance culture, Politics, Science and Alchemy (earning it the name “magic Prague”). Once again Prague had become the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. Furthermore it had entered another Golden Age.
Workshops, studios and even an observatory were set up in Prague. Artists, craftsmen, scholars and scientists from all over the world were invited to work in them. They included: painters Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Bartholomew Spranger, Hans von Aachen, Josef Heintz, Jacob Hoefnagel, Petr Stevens, Roelant Savery, and Hans Mont; sculptors Adrian de Vries and Giovanni Battista Quadri; etcher Wenceslas Hollar; copper engraver Aegidius Sadeler; goldsmiths Paul van Vianen, Anton Schweinberger, and Jan Vermeyen; gemstone cutter Ottavio Miseroni; poetess Elisabeth Westonia; composers Filip de Monte, Charles Luyton and Jakob Handl-Gallus; philosopher and theologist Giordano Bruno; physicist Michael Mayer, astronomer Tycho de Brahe; astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler; mathematician and machinist Joost Borgi; mathematician John Dee; physician and alchemist Anselm Boethius de Boodt. Along with the artists, craftsmen, scholars and scientists came a strange collection of magicians and other bizarre figures, like the spiritualist Edward Kelley.
In1604 Rudolph founded a pheasantry in the Royal Garden. In Ferdinand II’s Lion Court he kept his beloved lion Mohamed, a gift from the Sultan of Turkey. The Emperor and the King of the Beasts had a close, almost human or perhaps even spiritual rapport. Rudolph immortalised Mohomed in the many lion sculptures around the city of Prague, the most famous of which is the statue outside the Rudolfinum, home of the famous and acoustically perfect Dvorjak Music Hall.
Although a devout Catholic, Rudolph was a liberal and fair-minded man. In 1609 his “Imperial Charter of the Emperor” legalised religious freedoms unheard of in Europe at the time. This brought an influx German Lutherans and Calvinists, seeking refuge from religious intolerance. Among the Germans was Count J.M Thurn who was to prove a major player in the dark days which were to follow Rudoph’s reign.
Many Jewish immigrants also settled in Prague at this time, attracted by the climate of religious tolerance and by promising commercial prospects . Among them was Judah Leow Ben Bazale who served as Maharal or chief Rabbi, between 1597 and 1609. At 15,000, the Jewish population represented approximately one third of the total. It was the largest Ashkenazic community in the world and the second largest Jewish community in Europe after Thessaloniki. The old Jewish quarter grew into a town, Josefov. Shops and houses sprang up and many synagogues were built to serve the large congregations. The 17th century and most particularly the time of Rudolph II, is now considered the golden age of Jewish Prague.Today Judah Leow Ben Bazale's tomb, in the Jewish cemetary, is a pilgrimmage site for Jews from all over the world.
Rudolph II died in 1612, in the Royal Garden Observatory which he had founded. He died within days of his beloved Mohammed, who had lived a life of a phenomenal, almost human length. The death of Rudolph II marked the end of the most celebrated period in Prague's history.
After Rudoph’s death, his successor, his brother Matthias moved the Habsburgh seat back to Vienna. Another period of instability followed. Dissatisfaction with the Bohemian Diet’s nomination of Ferdinand of Styria as successor to Matthias led to tension between the Bohemian Protestants and the Catholic Habsburgs. On May 23, 1618, in the incident now known as the “Third Defenestration of Prague” the Catholic Governors were thrown from the windows of Prague Castle. They were replaced by Protestants and Ferdinand of Styria was replaced by the Calvinist Frederick V of Platz. This began the Thirty Years War, essentially a war between Catholics and Protestants which involved a large part of Europe. At the Battle of White Hill (Bila Hora) in 1620 Catholic Spain, Poland and Bavaria along with Lutheran Saxony (who opposed the Calvinists) fought on Ferdinand’s side. The Protestant Army, led by J.M. Thurn was aided by Moravia, Lusatia and Silesia. The Catholics won and the Emperor Ferdinand II became King of Bohemia. Many Protestant leaders were executed. Others fled the country. The Czech lands were “re-Catholicised” and Protestant citizens were ordered to convert or emigrate. Thousands chose the latter option. After the Peace of Westphalia, Ferdinand moved the Royal Seat back to Vienna and Prague became a just provincial town. Prague’s economy collapsed. People left in a steady stream and the population dropped from 60,000 to 20,000. The future of the golden city seemed bleak.
Explore Habsburgh Prague in the Palace Gardens and at Prague Palace. Sopt Rudolph’s lions around the city and at the Rudolfinun
The Palace Garden
Ferdinand’s successor, his son Maximillian, continued to rule Prague from Vienna. However, he also continued Ferdinand’s work at Prague Palace. In 1569 the Royal Ball Game Hall, deslgned by Bonifac Wohlmart as a venue for Royal games and competitions was completed. Buildings were added to the Lion court. Today these house a restaurant which offers a magnificent view of St Vitus Cathedral. Maxmilian II added more precious and exotic plants to the Royal Garden, like the narcissi and bluebells which still grow there today.
The View of St Vitus Cathedral from the Prague Castle Garden
In 1575, Rudolph II, son of Maximillian, was crowned Emperor. Rudolph was well-connected. Not only was he related to the Jagellon Dynasty, the Luxembourg Dynasty and the Premyslid Dynasty but also, through his great grandmother, “Mad Joan”, to the Spanish throne. In 1583 Rudolph moved the seat of the Empire back to Prague. He took up residence in Prague Castle and reconstructed it in the Renaissance style. The imperial court led the development of European Mannerism, and the city became a centre of Renaissance culture, Politics, Science and Alchemy (earning it the name “magic Prague”). Once again Prague had become the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. Furthermore it had entered another Golden Age.
Prague Castle
Workshops, studios and even an observatory were set up in Prague. Artists, craftsmen, scholars and scientists from all over the world were invited to work in them. They included: painters Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Bartholomew Spranger, Hans von Aachen, Josef Heintz, Jacob Hoefnagel, Petr Stevens, Roelant Savery, and Hans Mont; sculptors Adrian de Vries and Giovanni Battista Quadri; etcher Wenceslas Hollar; copper engraver Aegidius Sadeler; goldsmiths Paul van Vianen, Anton Schweinberger, and Jan Vermeyen; gemstone cutter Ottavio Miseroni; poetess Elisabeth Westonia; composers Filip de Monte, Charles Luyton and Jakob Handl-Gallus; philosopher and theologist Giordano Bruno; physicist Michael Mayer, astronomer Tycho de Brahe; astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler; mathematician and machinist Joost Borgi; mathematician John Dee; physician and alchemist Anselm Boethius de Boodt. Along with the artists, craftsmen, scholars and scientists came a strange collection of magicians and other bizarre figures, like the spiritualist Edward Kelley.
Prague Castle
In1604 Rudolph founded a pheasantry in the Royal Garden. In Ferdinand II’s Lion Court he kept his beloved lion Mohamed, a gift from the Sultan of Turkey. The Emperor and the King of the Beasts had a close, almost human or perhaps even spiritual rapport. Rudolph immortalised Mohomed in the many lion sculptures around the city of Prague, the most famous of which is the statue outside the Rudolfinum, home of the famous and acoustically perfect Dvorjak Music Hall.
The Rudolfinum
Although a devout Catholic, Rudolph was a liberal and fair-minded man. In 1609 his “Imperial Charter of the Emperor” legalised religious freedoms unheard of in Europe at the time. This brought an influx German Lutherans and Calvinists, seeking refuge from religious intolerance. Among the Germans was Count J.M Thurn who was to prove a major player in the dark days which were to follow Rudoph’s reign.
A synagogue in Jewish Prague
Many Jewish immigrants also settled in Prague at this time, attracted by the climate of religious tolerance and by promising commercial prospects . Among them was Judah Leow Ben Bazale who served as Maharal or chief Rabbi, between 1597 and 1609. At 15,000, the Jewish population represented approximately one third of the total. It was the largest Ashkenazic community in the world and the second largest Jewish community in Europe after Thessaloniki. The old Jewish quarter grew into a town, Josefov. Shops and houses sprang up and many synagogues were built to serve the large congregations. The 17th century and most particularly the time of Rudolph II, is now considered the golden age of Jewish Prague.Today Judah Leow Ben Bazale's tomb, in the Jewish cemetary, is a pilgrimmage site for Jews from all over the world.
Rudolph II died in 1612, in the Royal Garden Observatory which he had founded. He died within days of his beloved Mohammed, who had lived a life of a phenomenal, almost human length. The death of Rudolph II marked the end of the most celebrated period in Prague's history.
After Rudoph’s death, his successor, his brother Matthias moved the Habsburgh seat back to Vienna. Another period of instability followed. Dissatisfaction with the Bohemian Diet’s nomination of Ferdinand of Styria as successor to Matthias led to tension between the Bohemian Protestants and the Catholic Habsburgs. On May 23, 1618, in the incident now known as the “Third Defenestration of Prague” the Catholic Governors were thrown from the windows of Prague Castle. They were replaced by Protestants and Ferdinand of Styria was replaced by the Calvinist Frederick V of Platz. This began the Thirty Years War, essentially a war between Catholics and Protestants which involved a large part of Europe. At the Battle of White Hill (Bila Hora) in 1620 Catholic Spain, Poland and Bavaria along with Lutheran Saxony (who opposed the Calvinists) fought on Ferdinand’s side. The Protestant Army, led by J.M. Thurn was aided by Moravia, Lusatia and Silesia. The Catholics won and the Emperor Ferdinand II became King of Bohemia. Many Protestant leaders were executed. Others fled the country. The Czech lands were “re-Catholicised” and Protestant citizens were ordered to convert or emigrate. Thousands chose the latter option. After the Peace of Westphalia, Ferdinand moved the Royal Seat back to Vienna and Prague became a just provincial town. Prague’s economy collapsed. People left in a steady stream and the population dropped from 60,000 to 20,000. The future of the golden city seemed bleak.
Explore Habsburgh Prague in the Palace Gardens and at Prague Palace. Sopt Rudolph’s lions around the city and at the Rudolfinun
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