Karel Baxa
Encyclopedia
Karel Baxa was a Czech politician in Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
and then in Czechoslovakia
. He is most known for his long term position as mayor of Prague
(Primátor hlavního města Prahy).
, studied gymnasium, finishing in 1881, and continued to study law at the Charles University in Prague
, finishing in 1888. Later, he worked at courts in Tábor
and Cheb
and since 1891 he was advocate in Prague. Baxa frequently defended Czech journalists during state of emergency (1893) and was also defendant of youth activists accused during Omladina Trial
(1893/94). He was lawyer of victim's family during Hilsner Affair
(1899), opposing views of Tomáš Masaryk
.
(Wiener Reichsrat).
In 1899 he co-founded, together with Alois Rašín
and several others, new patriotic political party (Státoprávně radikální strana) whose programme asked for establishment of independent Czech state. Baxa was leader of this party until 1908, when it split and Baxa, together with many members joined another party (Česká strana státoprávně pokroková). In 1911 he joined Czech National Social Party
(later known under different names) and stayed there until his death.
(1918) Baxa was named mayor of Prague
(1919), since 1922 he became mayor of Greater Prague (roughly today city of Prague). He was elected three more times: in 1923, 1927 and in 1932. In 1937 he left the position because of old age. During his service as a mayor the city witnessed major development of infrastructure and of social, cultural and medicine institutions. Baxa was portrayed as initiator and supporter of this development.
Baxa had a distaste for ethnic Germans and on occasions proposed or supported limits on use of German language in Prague.
Other important positions of Baxa were: since 1920 chairman of constitution court (předseda Ústavního soudu Československé republiky), since 1923 chairman of the board of directors of the Czech Bank (předseda správní rady České banky), during 1928-37 member of state representation of Bohemia (člen českého zemského zastupitelstva), chairman of Czech ski club.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and then in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He is most known for his long term position as mayor of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(Primátor hlavního města Prahy).
Advocacy
Baxa, nephew of journalist Karel Havlíček BorovskýKarel Havlícek Borovský
Karel Havlíček Borovský was a Czech writer, poet, critic, politician, journalist, and publisher. He lived and studied at the Gymnasium in Německý Brod , and his house on the main square is today the Havlíček Museum...
, studied gymnasium, finishing in 1881, and continued to study law at the Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
, finishing in 1888. Later, he worked at courts in Tábor
Tábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
and Cheb
Cheb
Cheb is a city in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic, with about 33,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Ohře , at the foot of one of the spurs of the Smrčiny and near the border with Germany...
and since 1891 he was advocate in Prague. Baxa frequently defended Czech journalists during state of emergency (1893) and was also defendant of youth activists accused during Omladina Trial
Omladina Trial
In 1894, the Omladina Trial, convened in the Austro-Hungarian regional capital of Prague, ostensibly placed Czech Anarchism and Anarcho-syndicalism before the court as well as specifically convicting 68 Czech Nationalists of radical activities....
(1893/94). He was lawyer of victim's family during Hilsner Affair
Hilsner Affair
The Hilsner Affair was a series of anti-semitic trials following an accusation of blood libel against Leopold Hilsner, a Jewish inhabitant of the village of Polná in Bohemia in 1899 and 1900...
(1899), opposing views of Tomáš Masaryk
Tomáš Masaryk
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , sometimes called Thomas Masaryk in English, was an Austro-Hungarian and Czechoslovak politician, sociologist and philosopher, who as an eager advocate of Czechoslovak independence during World War I became the founder and first President of Czechoslovakia, also was...
.
Political career
Baxa became member of radical movement (radikálně pokrokové hnutí), section of Young Czechs political party. In 1895 he vas elected into local parliament of Bohemia, staying there until 1913. During 1901-18 Baxa was also member of imperial parliament in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(Wiener Reichsrat).
In 1899 he co-founded, together with Alois Rašín
Alois Rašín
Alois Rašín was a Czech economist and politician.Rašín was born into a family of farmers. After gymnasium he continued his schooling with the study of law at the Charles University in Prague. Here he became active in politics, and a leader in the radical students movement...
and several others, new patriotic political party (Státoprávně radikální strana) whose programme asked for establishment of independent Czech state. Baxa was leader of this party until 1908, when it split and Baxa, together with many members joined another party (Česká strana státoprávně pokroková). In 1911 he joined Czech National Social Party
Czech National Social Party
Czech National Social Party was a civic nationalist political party established in 1898 within the Young Czech Party as a nominally socialist group with a stress on achieving Czech independence from Austria–Hungary Czech National Social Party (Czech: Česká strana národně sociální) was a civic...
(later known under different names) and stayed there until his death.
Mayor of Prague
After creation of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
(1918) Baxa was named mayor of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(1919), since 1922 he became mayor of Greater Prague (roughly today city of Prague). He was elected three more times: in 1923, 1927 and in 1932. In 1937 he left the position because of old age. During his service as a mayor the city witnessed major development of infrastructure and of social, cultural and medicine institutions. Baxa was portrayed as initiator and supporter of this development.
Baxa had a distaste for ethnic Germans and on occasions proposed or supported limits on use of German language in Prague.
Other important positions of Baxa were: since 1920 chairman of constitution court (předseda Ústavního soudu Československé republiky), since 1923 chairman of the board of directors of the Czech Bank (předseda správní rady České banky), during 1928-37 member of state representation of Bohemia (člen českého zemského zastupitelstva), chairman of Czech ski club.