Prague, the mother of all cities, Part 2; Mediaeval Prague and the Premyslid Dynasty
July 1st 2008 07:47
In the decade of 880 to 890, Bohemia became the permanent seat of the ruling Premyslid princes. According to legend, the dynasty was founded on the marriage of the sovereign Princess Libuse and the humble ploughman Premysil. The royal castle was said to have been in central Bohemia and 7th century ruins in the region support the story. It was from this castle apparently, that the legendary princess, famed for her visions, foresaw the glorious future city of Prague “I see a vast city, whose glory will touch the stars! I see a place in the middle of a forest where a steep cliff arises above the Vltava River. There is a man who is chiselling the threshold (prah) for a house. A castle named Prague (prah) will be built there. Just as the princes and the dukes stoop in front of a threshold, they will bow to the castle and to the city around it. It will be honoured, favoured with great repute and praise will be bestowed upon it by the whole world”
However, it was Prince Borivoj Premislovec who realised Libuse’s dream when he built Prague Castle, on a hill the left bank of the Vltava around 880. The settlement of Vrasehad and an old fortified Romanesque settlement, which would soon become part of the great city of Prague, had already been established on the right bank. A new town sprang up, below the castle, at the shallow crossing points over the Vltava River, where long trade routes converged. By the early 10th century it had developed into an important trading centre where merchants from all over Europe gathered, so from the start, the city was multi-culturual. When Borivoj and his wife Ludmila were baptised by the evangelists by Cyril and Methodius, the "apostles of the Slavs" in 863, Bohemia became Christian. Borivoj began a programme of building, beginning with the Church of our Lady and following with the Basilica of St George and the new town soon became the grandest in the region.
The next great Premyslid ruler was Borivij’s grandson, Wenceslas. Under him more churches were built including St Vitus Rotunda, on the site where St Vitus Cathedral now stands. A bishopric was established in Bohemia and the Bishop’s house was located in the Palace grounds. This strengthened Prague’s position as the centre of the emerging Czech state. Wenceslas also sought to strengthen Bohemia’s position in the region by making an alliance with the neighbouring German Saxon dynasty. This is believed to have been the reason for his assassination by his brother Boleslav on September 28, 929. Wenceslas was buried in St Vitus Rotunda. He was later canonised and became Bohemia’s most famous and beloved patron Saint. In 950, after many years of warfare, Otto I of the Saxon Dynasty defeated Boleslav and Bohemia came under the sway of the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1085 Prince Vratislav II became the first Czech king as King Vratislav I. Despite his regal status, he remained subordinate to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Saxon King. Vratisalav set up a second principality at Vysehrad across the river and a road was built to connect it to the fortified settlement further along the right bank. During the 11th century this old Romanesque fort, today’s Stare Mesto, or old town, began to expand back from the riverbank and to centre around a large marketplace that is today Staromestske Namesti or the Old Town Square. Many Germans settled here. Jewish merchants set up businesses and the Jewish quarter was established. The Old New Syngogue was built at this time and the first souls were laid to rest in the Jewish Cemetary.
Prince Vladislav II became King of Bohemia in 1158. Under his reign, churches and monasteries proliferated. In 1172 the Judith Bridge, the first stone bridge over the Vltava, was built The Judith Bridge collapsed in the 14th century and was repalced by the Charles Brdge.
In 1212 a Papal Bull (the Golden Bull of Sicily) decreed Bohemia a hereditary kingdom with Prince Premysil Otakar I as Regent. Under his rule a programme of peaceful colonisation began and the Germans, who were to live harmoniously among the Czechs, for over 200 years arrived. The small settlements which comprised Prague grew considerably during this time and in 1230, the old fortified Romanesque Stare Mesto gained the status of a town.
In 1257, Premysl Otakar II took the throne. He founded Prague's Mensi Mesto, or Smaller Town, which was later named Mala Strana or Lesser Town, on the left bank of the Vltava and invited colonists from Northern Germany to settle there. By the end of the 13th century, he was the most powerful King in the Holy Roman Empire. Known as the Iron and Golden King he ruled in seven other countries and his reign extended form Silesia to the Adriatic coast.
By 1303, the male line of the Premysild rulers had died out but Prague was already a great and beautiful city of majestic castles, grand buildings and magnificent churches. Its settlements had grown into prosperous towns. Merchants and traders came from all over the world to do business here. It was well on the way to becoming the vast, glorious city of Princess Libuse’s vision.
While much of Mediaeval Prague has been demolished or disappeared under subsequent layers of bricks and mortar, much of it still remains. Uncover the Prague of the Premyslid Dynasty with a walk through Stare Mesto, the Jewish Quarter, around the area where the Charles Bridge meets the right bank of the Vltava, through Mala Strana and around Prague Castle.
Looking across the Vltava to the left bank
However, it was Prince Borivoj Premislovec who realised Libuse’s dream when he built Prague Castle, on a hill the left bank of the Vltava around 880. The settlement of Vrasehad and an old fortified Romanesque settlement, which would soon become part of the great city of Prague, had already been established on the right bank. A new town sprang up, below the castle, at the shallow crossing points over the Vltava River, where long trade routes converged. By the early 10th century it had developed into an important trading centre where merchants from all over Europe gathered, so from the start, the city was multi-culturual. When Borivoj and his wife Ludmila were baptised by the evangelists by Cyril and Methodius, the "apostles of the Slavs" in 863, Bohemia became Christian. Borivoj began a programme of building, beginning with the Church of our Lady and following with the Basilica of St George and the new town soon became the grandest in the region.
St Vitus Cathedarl today
The next great Premyslid ruler was Borivij’s grandson, Wenceslas. Under him more churches were built including St Vitus Rotunda, on the site where St Vitus Cathedral now stands. A bishopric was established in Bohemia and the Bishop’s house was located in the Palace grounds. This strengthened Prague’s position as the centre of the emerging Czech state. Wenceslas also sought to strengthen Bohemia’s position in the region by making an alliance with the neighbouring German Saxon dynasty. This is believed to have been the reason for his assassination by his brother Boleslav on September 28, 929. Wenceslas was buried in St Vitus Rotunda. He was later canonised and became Bohemia’s most famous and beloved patron Saint. In 950, after many years of warfare, Otto I of the Saxon Dynasty defeated Boleslav and Bohemia came under the sway of the Holy Roman Empire.
The interior of St Vitus Cathedral
In 1085 Prince Vratislav II became the first Czech king as King Vratislav I. Despite his regal status, he remained subordinate to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Saxon King. Vratisalav set up a second principality at Vysehrad across the river and a road was built to connect it to the fortified settlement further along the right bank. During the 11th century this old Romanesque fort, today’s Stare Mesto, or old town, began to expand back from the riverbank and to centre around a large marketplace that is today Staromestske Namesti or the Old Town Square. Many Germans settled here. Jewish merchants set up businesses and the Jewish quarter was established. The Old New Syngogue was built at this time and the first souls were laid to rest in the Jewish Cemetary.
The Jewish Cemetary
Prince Vladislav II became King of Bohemia in 1158. Under his reign, churches and monasteries proliferated. In 1172 the Judith Bridge, the first stone bridge over the Vltava, was built The Judith Bridge collapsed in the 14th century and was repalced by the Charles Brdge.
The Charles Bridge from the right bank of the Vltava
In 1212 a Papal Bull (the Golden Bull of Sicily) decreed Bohemia a hereditary kingdom with Prince Premysil Otakar I as Regent. Under his rule a programme of peaceful colonisation began and the Germans, who were to live harmoniously among the Czechs, for over 200 years arrived. The small settlements which comprised Prague grew considerably during this time and in 1230, the old fortified Romanesque Stare Mesto gained the status of a town.
In 1257, Premysl Otakar II took the throne. He founded Prague's Mensi Mesto, or Smaller Town, which was later named Mala Strana or Lesser Town, on the left bank of the Vltava and invited colonists from Northern Germany to settle there. By the end of the 13th century, he was the most powerful King in the Holy Roman Empire. Known as the Iron and Golden King he ruled in seven other countries and his reign extended form Silesia to the Adriatic coast.
A street in Mala Strana
By 1303, the male line of the Premysild rulers had died out but Prague was already a great and beautiful city of majestic castles, grand buildings and magnificent churches. Its settlements had grown into prosperous towns. Merchants and traders came from all over the world to do business here. It was well on the way to becoming the vast, glorious city of Princess Libuse’s vision.
The Old Town Square
While much of Mediaeval Prague has been demolished or disappeared under subsequent layers of bricks and mortar, much of it still remains. Uncover the Prague of the Premyslid Dynasty with a walk through Stare Mesto, the Jewish Quarter, around the area where the Charles Bridge meets the right bank of the Vltava, through Mala Strana and around Prague Castle.
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