House of Rosenberg
Encyclopedia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n noble family playing important role in Czech medieval history from 13th century till 1611 (members of family held posts at the Prague royal (and later imperial) court and were called "the real lords of the kingdom
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
"). This branch of Witikonids (Vítkovci) clan was initially founded by Vítek III, the son of Vítek (Witiko) of Prčice
Sedlec-Prcice
Sedlec-Prčice is a town in the Czech Republic. The town is sixty kilometers south of Prague.There is an old synagogue on the town square that now hosts a small factory that makes sporting equipment. Not so much as a commemorative plaque attests to the building's past...
.
In about 1250, the Vítkovci clan settled the Rožmberk Castle
Rožmberk Castle
Rožmberk is a castle situated in South Bohemia near Rožmberk nad Vltavou in the Czech Republic. Considered as one of the oldest castles in Bohemia, it stands on a promotory carved out on three sides by the river Vltava. It was first mentioned in 1253 in a document signed by Vok "von Rosenberg"...
in the region of Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle...
, then in about 1253 erected the Český Krumlov castle. The Krumlov castle thus became the residence of the Lords of Rožmberk for the next three hundred years. It was the Rožmberks who influenced to a great extent the appearance of south Bohemia.
The Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and emblem of this family was represented by a red five-petalled rose in a silver field which is still often seen in a considerable part of south Bohemia.
Petr I. of Rožmberk held the post of the superior chamberlain at the court of John of Bohemia. His wife was a widow of the Bohemian king Wenceslaus III
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia
Wenceslaus III Premyslid was the King of Hungary , King of Bohemia and the king of Poland ....
.
Another significant personage of the family was Jindřich III. of Rožmberk, a son of Oldřich I., who led the Union of Nobility, was displeased the reign of King Wenceslaus IV
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
.
Jindřich's son Oldřich II. of Rožmberk was a member of the Bohemian nobility
Bohemian nobility
Bohemian or Czech nobility refers to the noble families of the Czech state , also known as "Bohemian Crown", "The Lands of the Bohemian Crown" or "The Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslaus".Aristocracy was abolished by law in December 1918 at the occasion of birth of the independent...
who defended the interests of Bohemian catholic nobility and of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
during the times of the Hussite wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
.
A daughter of Oldřich II. was Perchta of Rožmberk, who is identified with the Rožmberks "White Lady
White Lady (ghost)
A White Lady is a type of female ghost reportedly seen in rural areas and associated with some local legend of tragedy. White Lady legends are found around the world. Common to many of them is the theme of losing or being betrayed by a husband or fiancé...
" ghost tales, and current residents of the area still report seeing Perchta's spirit around the castle.
The decline of the House of Rožmberk began with Vilém and Petr Vok, the sons of Jošt III., both being raised in the guardianship of their uncle Petr V.
Vilém of Rožmberk is generally considered the most significant representative of the family, making the Český Krumlov area the center of southern Bohemian cultural and political life.
After Vilém's death in 1592, his younger brother Petr Vok assumed the position as reigning Lord. In 1601, he was forced to sell the Krumlov castle to the king Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
. Petr Vok transferred his residence after the sale to Třeboň
Trebon
Třeboň is a historical town in South Bohemian Region of Czech Republic. The population stands at 8,862 .-History:Třeboň was established around the middle of the 12th century. In 1366 the House of Rožmberk become owner of the estate...
where he died in 1611. Petr Vok brought to a close the three-hundred-year-long reign of this illustrious dynasty.
External links
- http://www.hrad-rozmberk.eu/en/ Web of the castle of Rožmberk
- http://www.ckrumlov.info/docs/en/mesto_histor_rozmbe.xml Genealogy of the house
- http://www.zamky-hrady.cz/8/rozm.htm Coat of Arms