Czech Monarchs

The modern Czech state has never been a monarchy. For all intents and purposes however, it is an indirect successor to the Kingdom of Bohemia and associated titles.

Great Moravia

Mojmir I built Great Moravia by uniting Slavic tribes in the 9th century, especially the principalities of Moravia and Nitra. Moravia was a duchy vassalized to Louis II (a.k.a. Louis the German), king of East Francia.

By 907, much of southeastern Moravia had been conquered by the ascendant kingdom of Hungary.

Duchy of Bohemia

In the 890s, Bohemia seceded from Moravia to become a duchy vassal of Arnulf, king of East Francia.

In the 10th century the duchy became effectively sovereign, owing to the ascendant kingdom of Hungary expelling East Frankish and Byzantine influence in the region.

In 1002, Vladivoj returned Bohemia to the Holy Roman Empire under Henry II. Bretislav I conquered Moravia in the 1020s; they would become a critical crownland.

In 1085, Henry III raised Vratislaus II to king of Bohemia. Similarly, in 1147, Frederick Barbarossa raised Vladislav II to king of Bohemia. Neither title was hereditary.

Kingdom of Bohemia

After Henry VI died in 1197, a succession war for the Holy Roman Empire began between Philip and Otto IV. Ottokar initially supported Philip, and was rewarded with a hereditary title of king. By 1200 Ottokar had joined Otto IV, who agreed to recognize the kingdom. This was formalized in 1212 by Frederick II.

At least by the election of 1257, the king of Bohemia was ex officio a prince-elector in the Holy Roman Empire (as the Arch-Cupbearer).

Bohemia was infrequently held in personal union with Hungary and Croatia, namely under Sigismund and Wenceslaus III. From this point on, Bohemia would fall into the sway of Hungarian politics. After the Ottoman conquest of Buda, both "Royal Hungary" and the kingdom of Bohemia joined the Habsburg empire.

Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia

The duchy of Silesia was established in 1138. It quickly disintegrated into dozens of duchies, called the duchies of Silesia.

John claimed the kingdom of Poland and obtained the fealty of many of the dukes of Silesia. Per the Treaty of Trentschin in 1335, John renounced that claim in exchange for suzerainity over the duchies.

The realms would be reorganized into the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia through the Treaty of Berlin in 1742.

Margraviate of Moravia

The margraviate of Moravia was established in 1182 for the kingdom of Bohemia. This title traditionally was given to the heir apparent.

Dynasties

Premyslid

The Premyslid dynasty began with a small holding surrounding Prague. Over centuries they raised Bohemia into a duchy, then into a kingdom.

Wenceslaus III died without an heir.

Piast

After Jaromir overthrew his brother Boleslaus III (Boleslav), Boleslaus IV installed their cousin Vladivoj as duke. Vladivoj died within the year, requiring Boleslaus IV to again intervene and restore Boleslaus III. Boleslaus III then incited further chaos by massacring the Vrsovci dynasty, who played a significant role in Jaromir's rebellion. Boleslaus IV intervened one last time, finally claiming the duchy for himself.

See also the Polish Piast dynasty.

Within a year, Jaromir returned to Bohemia with support from Henry II. Boleslaus IV renounced the duchy and surrendered Prague.

Gorizia

Hnery was electing king following the death of Wenceslaus III.

Henry was deposed by John.

Luxembourg

John deposed Henry to become king of Bohemia.

Sigismund left no heirs, enabling the Albertinian line of the Habsburgs to inherit.

Habsburg

Albert II inherited the kingdom from his father-in-law Sigismund. See also the Hungarian Habsburg dynasty.

Ladislaus V was born months after the death of Albert II. A succession war broke out, but George won the kingdom for Ladislaus V. He served as regent in the interregnum period.

Ladislaus V died without an heir.

Podebrady

George (Jiri) was a leading Hussite noble. After Albert II died in 1439, a succession war began between the Hussites and the "Romans", led by Oldrich II, another Czech noble. George was officially made regent of Bohemia in 1451.

In 1457, Ladislaus V died without an heir. George was unanimously elected king by the local nobility.

George would be deposed by Matthias I in 1470.

Hunyadi

In 1469 Matthias I invaded and deposed George (Jiri). He claimed the kingdom but never enforced it outside of Moravia.

Jagiellon

Following the deposition of George (Jiri), continued resistance against Matthias I came to be led by Vladislaus.

Vladislaus would later be made king of Hungary and Croatia, guaranteeing Bohemian sovereignty and creating a massive personal union under the Jagiellon dynasty.

Louis II was killed in the Ottoman conquest of Hungary.

CategoryRicottone