§ 3. Formation of the Czech state

As a result of the collapse of the Great Moravian Union, a union of Czech tribes emerged from it, which later became the basis on which the Czech pre-feudal state arose. The territory inhabited by Czech tribes was a quadrangle bounded by the Bohemian Forest, the Ore or Ore Mountains, the Sudetes and the Giant Mountains (Giant Mountains) and the Bohemian-Moravian Heights. It was irrigated by the Laba River and its main tributaries, the Vltava and Ogra.

The Czech tribes, like other Slavic peoples, lived in a tribal system, but in the 9th–10th centuries. the clan system was already in a state of disintegration. This was associated with the development of productive forces, mainly with the success of agriculture.

Significant material assets were concentrated in the hands of clan elders. Owning slaves (youths), the clan nobility had the opportunity to process land, located outside the territory that was considered the property of the clan. New conditions contributed to the economic strengthening and increasing political importance of the tribal nobility. She became the force that guided the life of her tribe. In the 9th–10th centuries. the descendants of the tribal nobility were called princes, zhupans and governors. In connection with the disintegration of the clan system, the right of ownership of real estate and instruments of production is strengthened. In contrast to the clan nobility, which sought to secure individual plots for individual use, the bulk of the population continued to maintain collective ownership of the land. The clan was divided into separate large blood-related families - zadrugs. From among the latter, individual members stood out and organized their own households. Subsequently, these individual farms formed a community - a brand. The land continued to remain in the common possession of the community, but cultivated plots gradually passed into individual use. The wastelands continued to remain in common possession. These forms of land tenure existed until the 13th century.

Traces of the clan system remained for a long time in Czech customary law. The community paid for the head of a murdered person found on its territory if the culprit was not discovered. She took part in the search for criminals during the so-called code. The collective oath at the trial was also an indicator of the remnants of the tribal system. On the territory of tribal associations there were “cities” - political, military and shopping centers, to which the nearest settlements gravitated. The territory of tribal unions was divided into separate urban areas - zhupas. These territorial associations were already political associations. Among them, the leading place belonged to the Czech territorial-political association, as it occupied central part territory and located at the intersection of the most important land river routes.

By the half of the 10th century. the most important of the cities of this association, Prague, on the Vltava River, was in the possession of the Přemyslids. They united under their rule the individual Czech tribes living west of the Laba River. East End The territory inhabited by Czech tribes belonged to the Slavnik family. Their political center was Libice.

The growth of the political influence of both cities was determined by their economic importance. In Prague, trade routes crossed, passing through the central part of the territory from north to south and from west to east, to the Black Sea and Azov regions. The main trade route to the northeast to the Polish lands passed through Libice, and from there to Kievan Rus and the trade route to Hungary, Pannonia and the Balkans. The city of Libice was a serious economic and political rival of Prague. The Slavnikov family was a strong opponent of the Přemyslids. The possessions of the Slavniks extended to the west of the Vltava and cut off the trade routes going to the Czech Republic from the Danube. The long struggle between both political centers ended in the victory of the Prague prince, who united most of the tribes under his rule and had significant material resources.

The unification of the Czech tribes led to the fact that the elders of individual tribes - voivodes and zupans - had to recognize the authority of the central voivode or prince (dux). But it was a long and complex historical process. Although the Czech prince managed to subjugate other tribes, his initial power over them was not great. The governors of individual tribes did not want to recognize the power of the central prince. The Czech state was born in the struggle of the prince with the governors and tribal nobility. The struggle was intense, and it took a lot of effort to break the resistance of the governors and nobles of individual tribes. In addition, the internal struggle in the Czech principality itself weakened the power of the central prince, strengthening the position of his opponents. The intervention of German feudal lords in the internal affairs of the Czech Republic also delayed the unification of the Czech tribes into one state. The first historically known prince was Burivoy from the Přemyslid family (874–879). Together with his wife Lyudmila Buriva, he converted to Christianity in the capital of Moravia, Velehrad. Already under Burivoj's grandson, Vaclav (923–935), the situation in the Czech Republic became tense. Under him, the influence of the German clergy increased, which, as in Moravia, began to fight against the Slavic Church. Wenceslas supported the Catholic clergy, which took a dominant position in the country. The victory of the Catholic Church over the Slavic Church strengthened the position of the social elite. However, the dominance of the Latin language in writing delayed the development of writing in the Czech language for a long time.

The German feudal lords vigilantly monitored the internal situation in the country in order to subjugate the Czech Republic to their power. When Wenceslas was in a fight with Radislav, the prince of the Zličan tribe, who relied on the German feudal lords, King Henry I took advantage of this to invade the Czech Republic. He reached all the way to Prague. Wenceslas was forced to come to an agreement with Henry, recognized himself as a vassal of the king and undertook to pay tribute. The governors and Lechs took advantage of the difficult external situation and rebelled against Wenceslas. The uprising was pacified, but Vaclav himself soon died at the hands of his brother Boleslav, prince of the Pshovan tribe. Bolesław I (935–967) fought an unsuccessful war for independence with Otto I for many years. The common threat from the Magyars brought Bolesław I closer to the empire. The united German-Czech army defeated the Magyars in the Battle of the Lech River in 955, and thus the Czech Republic was freed from the threat of the Magyar invasion. After the defeat of the Magyars, Moravia with part of Silesia, in the upper reaches of the Oder, and Krakow was annexed to the Czech Republic. Boleslav was able to control the trade routes passing through Libice. To strengthen the foreign policy position of the Czech Republic, Boleslav became close to the Polish prince Mieszko (960–992) and married his daughter Dubravka to him.

Boleslav laid a solid foundation for the Czech state. In this regard, Boleslav is a successor to the traditions of the Great Moravian princes Rostislav and Svyatopolk. His power extended to all Czech tribes, with the exception of the possession of Slavnik, centered in Libice. The victories cost Boleslav great effort, and he was not shy in his choice of means. No wonder he received the nickname “Cruel” (Ukrutny).

Boleslav took energetic measures to strengthen his country. The majority of the Czech nobility were interested in strengthening their economic position and therefore supported Boleslav and his unification policy. The material resources that Boleslav had at his disposal allowed him to maintain a squad, which he used to fight the Germans and Magyars, and with its help he subjugated the rebellious tribes. Only one Libice prince, Radislav Slavnik, had not yet submitted to the prince and continued to fight against the unification policy of the Czech princes. Relations between the Prague and Libice princes became particularly strained under Boleslav II the Pious (967–999). To free the Czech Church from subordination to the highest German Catholic hierarchy, Boleslav II achieved the establishment of a separate bishopric in Prague, which remained canonically dependent on the Archbishop of Mainz. The establishment of the bishopric in Prague strengthened Boleslav's position, since the power of the Prague bishop extended to the entire Czech Republic. This dealt a political blow to Slavnik and his family. To stop the further strengthening of the power of the Prague prince, Slavnik achieved the appointment of his son Vojtech as the bishop of Prague under the name of Adalbert. The policy of the new bishop undermined the authority of the princely power. Clashes began between Bolesław II and Vojtěch. In the end, the Prague bishop was forced to leave his see. Under the patronage of the Polish prince, Wojtech went to the Prussians to spread Christianity among them, but was killed by them in 997 during his missionary activity. Boleslav II emerged victorious in the fight against the Libice prince Radislav Slavnik and his sons. Although the Libice prince relied on the German Emperor Otto III, the latter could not provide him with significant assistance. In 995, Boleslav occupied the capital of the Slavniks - Libice. During the capture of Libice, the entire male and female population was killed. The entire Slavnik family was destroyed. Their lands and property were confiscated in favor of the Czech prince. Thus, the eastern Bohemian lands passed into the hands of the Přemyslids, and all Czech lands were united under the rule of one prince. This is how the Czech state was created.

The chronicler Kozma of Prague approves of the personality and activities of Bolesław II. “This prince,” says Kozma, “was a Christian husband, a father of orphans, a protector of widows, a comforter of those who mourn, a patron of clergy and wanderers, and the founder of the churches of God. No one under him received either a spiritual or secular position for money. And in battles he was the bravest, he treated the vanquished with mercy, but most of all he valued calm and peace. He had a lot of wealth and military weapons." By this time Prague had already become a major center international trade, about which the Arab traveler Ibrahim Ibn-Yakub, who visited the Czech Republic under Boleslav I, wrote: “The city of Fraga (Prague) is built of stone and lime, and it is the richest of cities in trade. Rus' and Slavs come to him from Krakow (Krakow) with goods, and Muslims and Jews and Turks come to him from the countries of the Turks, as well as with goods and Byzantine calicos and take out flour, tin and various small things from them. Their country is the best of the countries of the north and the richest in life supplies. And in the city of Prague saddles and bridles and shields are made for use in their countries.” After the death of Boleslav II, the young Czech state had to endure deep internal and external upheavals. The tribal nobility rose up against Bolesław III, nicknamed the Red (999–1003), who did not want to come to terms with the loss of their independence. At the head of the tribal nobility was the Vrsovic family. Bolesław III was forced to flee to Germany. The temporary victory of the tribal nobility was associated with the support of its Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave (992–1025). The latter, taking advantage of internal complications in the Czech Republic, captured the beautiful Czech capital, and then Moravia, Krakow and Silesia.

To keep the Czech Republic under his rule, Boleslav I the Brave helped Boleslav III in his fight against the brothers Jaromir and Oldřich; with his assistance, Boleslav III returned to Prague and brutally dealt with his opponents. Then the lechs and rulers hostile to Boleslav III also turned to the Polish prince for help. Bolesław III, during a meeting with Bolesław I the Brave, was treacherously captured and blinded, and then imprisoned in a Polish fortress, where he was kept until his death. Boleslaw I the Brave headed towards Prague, and “ wonderful country Czech became a province of the Principality of Poland, cheerful Prague the capital of Boleslav.” However, Prague did not remain under the rule of the Polish prince for long. Emperor Henry II, fearing his strengthening, assisted Oldrich and Jaromir in the return of Prague. However, Moravia and Silesia remained with Bolesław I the Brave. Only in 1021 Moravia was freed from Polish rule, and Oldřich (1012–1034) gave it as an inheritance to his son Břetislav.

Under Břetislav (1034–1055), the Czech state grew stronger. The resistance of the feudal nobility was broken. Nevertheless, the external situation of the Czech Republic remained extremely tense. Břetislav was not alien to the idea of uniting the Slavic peoples under his rule, like Boleslav I the Brave. Therefore, Brzetislav, taking advantage of the feudal struggle that began after the death of the Polish prince Mieszko II (1025–1034), son of Boleslav I the Brave, captured Krakow in Lesser Poland and Gniezno in Greater Poland.

The extension of Břetislav's power to Poland strengthened the external position of the Czech Republic in relation to the German Empire, which continued to be the main enemy of the Czech state. The German emperor did not want to allow the Czech Republic to strengthen. To this end, Henry III launched a campaign against the Czech Republic in 1040, which ended in failure. The emperor was defeated at the Battle of Domažlice, in Western Bohemia. The following year, Henry III undertook a new campaign, which ended successfully, and Břetislav was forced to recognize the feudal dependence of the Czech Republic on the empire. With the help of this diplomatic act, the Czech lands remained under the rule of Břetislav.

But Břetislav failed to unite all the Czech lands under his rule. He owned only part of Moravia. The region along the left bank of the Danube, right down to the lower reaches of the Morava River, went to Bavaria. Ethnically and linguistically related to the Czechs, the Slovaks fell under the rule of the Magyars.

From the book History. Russian history. Grade 11. Advanced level. Part 1 author Volobuev Oleg Vladimirovich

§ 28. Formation of a union state

From book The World History. Volume 2. Middle Ages by Yeager Oscar

From the book The Birth of Rus' author Rybakov Boris Alexandrovich

FORMATION OF THE STATE OF Rus' Abundant material from diverse sources convinces us that East Slavic statehood matured in the south, in the rich and fertile forest-steppe zone of the Middle Dnieper. Here, thousands of years before Kievan Rus, it was known

From the book History of the Middle Ages. Volume 1 [In two volumes. Under the general editorship of S. D. Skazkin] author Skazkin Sergey Danilovich

Formation of the early French state The Hungarian tribes, roaming the southern Russian steppes, at the end of the 9th century, having crossed the Carpathians, began to populate the Middle Danube. Throughout the X century. Hungarians are developing this territory. Favorable living conditions contributed to their

From the book Secret Front. Memoirs of a political intelligence officer of the Third Reich. 1938-1945 author Höttl Wilhelm

Chapter 7 THE CRUSHMENT OF THE CZECH STATE In a number of countries that Hitler occupied after carrying out corresponding subversive activities among national minorities, Czechoslovakia occupies a special place. Three million Germans lived there along the Sudeten Mountains, and it was

author Platonov Sergey Fedorovich

Formation of the Kyiv state § 6. Chronicle legend about the calling of the Varangian princes. How and when did it start public life among the Russian Slavs, our ancestors did not remember. When they became interested in the past, they began to collect and record what passed between them.

From the book Unified Textbook of Russian History from Ancient Times to 1917. With a foreword by Nikolai Starikov author Platonov Sergey Fedorovich

Formation of the Great Russian State § 46. Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich; the significance of his activities. Vasily the Dark's successor was his eldest son, Ivan Vasilyevich. The blind father made him his co-ruler and during his lifetime gave him the title of Grand Duke.

From the book Ancient Russian history before the Mongol yoke. Volume 1 author Pogodin Mikhail Petrovich

FORMATION OF THE STATE And states, like all creatures in the world, begin as inconspicuous points. For a long, long time, with a strong magnifying glass, one must look at the ugly, heterogeneous pile of earth, people and their actions, at this human chaos, in order to finally catch

From book Ancient Rus'. IV–XII centuries author Team of authors

Formation of the state Gradually, the scattered tribes of the Eastern Slavs united. Ancient One Appears Russian state, which went down in history under the names “Rus”, “Kievan Rus”. ANCIENT?SSKE STATE?ART – widespread in historical literature

From the book National History (before 1917) author Dvornichenko Andrey Yurievich

§ 3. Formation of the Russian state During the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich (1462–1505) and his son Vasily III Ivanovich (1505–1533), what in historical literature is traditionally and justifiably called “the formation of a single state” occurs. Indeed, one can say

From the book History of the Far East. Eastern and Southeast Asia by Crofts Alfred

EDUCATION FOR THE STATE Two decades after the start of the Meiji era, several hundred Japanese were simultaneously enrolled in American schools, studying all fields of knowledge. Boys from wealthy families could afford to study abroad for ten years, and even

From the book General History of State and Law. Volume 1 author Omelchenko Oleg Anatolievich

§ 9.3. Formation of the Athenian state More developed than Sparta, in socio-economic terms, was the second of the largest ancient Greek states, Athens (Attica Peninsula), which soon subjugated the rest of Hellas to its influence. Classic way of formation

From the book Slavic Encyclopedia author Artemov Vladislav Vladimirovich

From the book World History. Volume 3 Age of Iron author Badak Alexander Nikolaevich

State formation In ancient India, the process of state formation was long. Gradually, the tribal aristocracy turned into the top of the emerging early class states, which were formed on a tribal basis. The power of tribal leaders increased

From the book National History. Crib author Barysheva Anna Dmitrievna

1 FORMATION OF THE ANCIENT RUSSIAN STATE Currently, two main versions about the origin of the East Slavic state retain their influence in historical science. The first was called Norman. Its essence is as follows: the Russian state

From the book History author Plavinsky Nikolay Alexandrovich

Briefly about the Czech Republic

Czech- a state in Central-Eastern Europe.

Despite its small size, the Czech Republic can be called, without exaggeration, one of the most distinctive countries in Europe with a rich history and a lot of attractions. The mild and comfortable climate allows you to visit and organize tours to the Czech Republic at almost any time of the year.

The main tourist center of the Czech Republic is its capital Prague. Five of its historic districts are included World Heritage UNESCO, which actually makes Prague a museum under open air. Walking around Prague, you can enjoy a truly fabulous and even mystical atmosphere. But the Czech Republic is famous not only for cultural and historical tourism in Prague, but also, for example, for its medical resort Karlovy Vary, especially popular among Russian tourists, as well as other cities.

General information and brief history

Today, 10.5 million people live in the Czech Republic. The area of the Czech Republic is 78.8 thousand km2 (slightly less than Leningrad region). The Czech Republic is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe.

The Czech Republic borders on countries such as Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. The distance from Prague to Vienna is 250 km, to Dresden - 120 km, to Munich - 300 km, to Budapest - 440 km.

The history of the Czech state dates back to around 870. The historical name of the Czech Republic is Bohemia, although geographically this historical region occupy only the western half of the country.

In the 20th century, the Czech Republic was part of the state of Czechoslovakia, which was under Soviet influence. In 1989, Czechoslovakia changed its development vector to capitalist, and in 1993 it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. In their political beliefs, the Czech Republic and its population adhere to the Western course, generally supporting the policies of the European Union and NATO.

However, unlike, for example, the Baltic countries, the inhabitants of the Czech Republic are quite calm and tolerant of their Soviet past, without being ashamed of it.

Let's figure out exactly why you need to visit this country.

Budget holiday

Despite the fact that the Czech Republic is a European country, and Prague is one of the most popular tourist centers Europe, a holiday here will cost you very little. Prices in the Czech Republic are very low, not only by European standards, but also by Russian standards. Here you can read about how to economically get to the Czech Republic and what prices are in its capital - Prague.

Uniqueness and originality

No matter how experienced a traveler you are and no matter how many countries you have visited, when you visit the Czech Republic, we guarantee that you will receive new emotions and impressions. There is a unique and unsurpassed atmosphere here that cannot be found anywhere else. But this is precisely why, as a rule, people go traveling!

You won't get bored in the Czech Republic!

The only thing this country cannot please is the sea. The Czech Republic is located in the center of Europe, surrounded on all sides by land and has no access to the sea. Therefore, if your main goal is to lie on the seashore under the warm sun, then the Czech Republic, alas, can only be an intermediate point of your trip. It can satisfy all other goals.

Do you just want to take a quiet stroll through the fairy-tale streets of Prague? Please! Tired of Prague? Then you should visit Cesky Krumlov and a number of other Czech fairy-tale towns located nearby.

Or maybe you'd be more interested in wandering through medieval castles? Then Karlštejn, Hluboka nad Vltavou and dozens of other castles are waiting for you.

Fabulous Prague and medieval castles weren't you impressed? Be sure to visit the world-famous Ossuary (Chapel of All Saints). The entire interior of this structure is decorated using 40 thousand human bones!

Do you want to improve your health, relax and restore strength? Then welcome to medical resort Karlovy Vary.

Or maybe you, on the contrary, want to properly shake your health and test the strength of your liver? In Prague, entire beer tours are organized to the most popular pubs with the most delicious Czech beers. In addition, there are traditional dishes of Czech cuisine, which will also not leave you indifferent. As you can see, you won’t be bored in the Czech Republic.

Be sure to read:

Top 10 attractions in Prague
Weather and climate in Prague
National cuisine of the Czech Republic

So are you ready to commit? unforgettable journey to the Czech Republic? Then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with important information on our website, which will help you plan your trip.

Czech Republic and cities on the map

LET'S TRAVEL CHEAP!

Chip flights

Any trip begins with searching and purchasing tickets - this is something you can and should save on!

When searching for cheap air tickets during our travels, we use search engines such as Aviasales and Momondo.

Some rules for finding cheap air tickets can be found in this article.

Cheap housing

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find good hotel(or apartments) in terms of price/quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.

You don't need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

Insurance

To obtain a Schengen visa, as is known, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, registration insurance pole It will also be useful for the safety of you and your family members, especially if you are traveling with children.

Excursions

The best way to get to know a new city is through guided tours from local residents. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.

Tourism plays an important role in the economy; every year Czechs earn more than 100 billion from tourists. – this is 5.5% Country's GDP. About 170,000 residents are employed in tourism, although this figure is clearly underestimated, because it does not include bartenders and waiters, shop assistants, and all these establishments work both for tourism and for the local population.

The Czech Republic receives about 9 million guests a year. According to statistics for 2016, German citizens are the leaders among travelers - 1,880,000. Tourists come from Slovakia (645,000), Poland (543,000), USA (511,000), Great Britain (470,000). Russians are in 6th place on this list - 406,000 tourists in 2016.

The number of tourists from China visiting the Czech Republic is growing rapidly. South Korea, Japan. Don't be surprised if by 2020 you see Chinese characters on shops and currency exchange offices in Prague.

What attracts tourists to the Czech Republic? What is the country proud of? What surprises visitors?

Firstly, historical centuries-old monuments. Although not as long as the Greek, Chinese or Egyptian, there are many monuments preserved here, and most are in excellent condition.

Having a thousand-year historical path behind it, the state is full of architecture of different styles and trends. These are more than 2 thousand castles, their ruins and palaces, among them the following are especially popular: Litomysl, Pardubice Castle, Jindrichuv Hradec, Zvezdny summer palace, castle in Kromeriz, Wallenstein Palace, Kinski Palace.

Religious monuments in the Czech Republic fascinate with their grandeur and unique architectural solutions. This is the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas in Olomouc, the Church of St. James the Elder, and many others scattered like pearls throughout the country. There are 11 Catholic cathedrals in the country.

Medical tourism is another strong point Czech tourism industry. Healing springs Karlovy Vary is famous throughout the world. It is believed that the resort was founded here by Emperor Charles IV in 1350. Other destinations: Poděbrady, Jáchymov, peloidal springs in Bechyn and Třebon, sulfur-iron peloidal springs in Lazne Toušeni, natural warm and hot water in Teplice and several others.

The Czech Republic is one of the European “Meccas” gastronomic tourism. Beer tours are in particular demand, when tourists are taken to breweries and tastings. However, there are so many types of beer in the Czech Republic that even during the longest beer tour it would be impossible to try them all.

Gaining momentum ski holiday. Unfortunately, the country cannot boast high mountains, in this area it is difficult for the Czechs to compete with neighboring Austria and Switzerland. There are mountains in the Czech Republic - these are the Sudeten Mountains, highest point countries - Mount Snezka (1602 meters). Some ski resorts are located in the Moravian hills. The most developed ski resort The country is now Pec pod Snezka.

Where it all began
The second name of the Czech Republic is Bohemia. It originated from the ancient Celtic tribe of Boii, who inhabited the territory of modern Northern Bohemia in prehistoric times. Then the Celts were replaced by the Germanic tribes of the Marcomanni, and in the 5th century they were replaced by the Slavs, from whom the modern Czechs descended.
The Slavic state, which reached its peak at the beginning of the 11th century and was called Great Moravia, has a very strange fate. Firstly, none of the historians can say exactly where the capital of this state was located. Secondly, despite the fact that Great Moravia had a fairly impressive territory (it included Slovakia, Bohemia, as well as part of what is now Austria and Hungary), this state had already collapsed by the beginning of the 10th century. Great Moravia was a Christian country; its baptizers, just like in Rus', were the apostles Cyril and Methodius.

“I see a golden hail!”
Thanks to the efforts of the first Czech princely dynasty, the Přemyslids, a new unification of the country took place between the 10th and 14th centuries. One of the most significant figures of this dynasty was Prince Wenceslas I, who was later canonized and considered the heavenly patron of the Czech Republic. The emergence of the capital of the Czech state, the city of Prague, is associated with the same period. According to an ancient legend, this event was predicted by Princess Libuše, the mythological founder of the Přemyslid family. Looking from the steep bank of the Vltava River at the place where Prague is now located, she prophetically exclaimed: “I see a golden city, its glory will rise to the stars!” Of course, a legend is a legend and historians, as always, have their own opinion on this issue: they believe that Prague became the capital after Prince Přemyslovich-Borževoy moved his residence here.
Despite the fact that Bohemia (which is what the Czech Republic was called in the old days) had its own princely dynasty, it was part of the German Empire. The situation changed in the second half of the 12th century, during the reign of Prince Přemysl Ottakar II. He managed not only to escape the subordination of the German Empire and establish autocracy in Bohemia, but also to expand the borders of his possessions, annexing Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola to the Czech lands. True, Přemysl’s triumph did not last long: the prince died in the war for the German crown that followed these events.

Luxembourg
Following Přemysl Ottakar II in Czech city Another representative of the Přemyslid family, Prince Wenceslas III, was killed in Olomouc. The dynasty ceased to exist. The question of who should rule next was soon resolved: in 1310, the wedding of 14-year-old John of Luxembourg to Wenceslaus III's 18-year-old daughter Eliska (Elizabeth) took place. Despite his young age, which, however, was in the order of things, John annexed Cheb and a significant part of Silesia to Bohemia. All together, the new regions began to be called lands of the Czech crown.
John of Luxembourg was a good king, but he had one fatal weakness: he loved to fight. When there were no wars or clashes in his own state, he went to other countries to get them. Naturally, this passion did not lead to anything good: in 1346, John died in the Battle of Crecy, speaking against the British on the side of the French.
The throne passed to John's son Charles IV, who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor. The personality of this ruler is so interesting that it deserves a separate discussion. Charles was a more practical and less ambitious ruler than his father, and took a keen interest in all the political affairs of his country. The biography of Charles IV is complete interesting facts. For example, few people know that Czech king had a completely different name: at birth he was named Wenceslas IV, but since he was brought up at the French court, they began to call him Charles there. Incidentally, this fact is the reason that Charles IV is sometimes confused with his son, who also bore the name Wenceslas IV.
Charles IV came to the throne when he was almost a child. He did not know the Czech language at all, and he was immediately surrounded by many evil advisers who wanted to usurp power, formally leaving the young king to rule. However, despite his age, Karl turned out to be a very subtle and intelligent politician. Having unraveled the plans of his insidious minions, he learned the Czech language in a very short time and took the reins of power into his own hands.
Charles IV is called the father of the Czech people. Indeed, this wise and enlightened ruler did a lot for his country, and the times of his reign became the zenith of the power and prosperity of the Czech Republic. It was under him that the first Charles University in Central Europe was created, the Charles Bridge and the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague were built, as well as many churches and monasteries throughout the Czech Republic. In those days, Prague was considered the third city of the Christian West after Rome and Constantinople. A gilded plaque on the Old City Hall reads: “Prague head of the empire.” The Emperor came up with a plan for the Prague New Town and personally supervised the construction; Karlštejn Castle and the Karlovy Vary spa were also named after Charles IV. Karl's achievements include the beginning of winemaking in the Czech Republic.

Period of the Hussite Wars
After the death of Charles IV, his eldest son Wenceslas IV became the owner of the Czech crown. The period of his reign was marked by economic, national and religious conflicts. The preconditions for these conflicts arose under Charles IV. The fact is that, being a very pious man and, moreover, having influential friends in Vatican circles, Charles actively supported the clergy. At the end of his reign, it had such wealth and privileges that it could not help but cause discontent among the population of the country.
In order for these public sentiments to develop into something more, an ideological leader was needed. And such a person soon appeared. He became a theology teacher at the University of Prague, Jan Hus. In his sermons, which took place in the Bethlehem chapel, Hus condemned the corruption of the clergy, called for depriving the church of property and subordinating it to secular power, demanded church reform, and spoke out against German dominance in the Czech Republic. The further fate of Jan Hus is known to everyone. At first he was excommunicated from the church, but despite this, he continued to preach secretly in Czech towns. Then, by decision of the church council, which was held in German city Constance, Hus was sentenced to death. Hus's execution took place on July 6 (now this day is a public holiday in the Czech Republic). Every Czech first-grader knows last words the great reformer, which he said after he was last asked to abandon his ideas: “I will not renounce!” The execution of Jan Hus was the spark that ignited the flames of the 20-year Hussite Wars. This revolution left a deep mark on the history of the country, but did not lead to any significant results. By compromising with the supporters of the Reformation, the church fulfilled only social, not religious demands.

Habsburgs
In 1526, the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand I of Habsburg became king of Bohemia. This dynasty was destined to rule the country until 1918. The emperor who left the most noticeable and striking mark in the history of the Czech Republic was Rudolf II. Of course, he was a man with an extraordinary and interesting character. He kept a lion as a pet and was a passionate art enthusiast and mystic. Rudolf amassed a very large collection of paintings, including works by the geniuses of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Rudolf's passion for everything related to supernatural forces led to Prague becoming the world capital of alchemy for almost thirty years. Magicians and alchemists from all over Europe flocked here in the hope of receiving the patronage of the emperor.
Rudolf II was the only representative of the Habsburg dynasty who wished to move to Prague (the rest of the Habsburgs ruled the country from Vienna). As once under Charles IV, so during the reign of Rudolf, the capital of the Czech state became cultural center Holy Roman Empire. Many Baroque buildings were built here, including the Church of Loreta and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. In 1611, under pressure from relatives, Rudolf II was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of his brother Matthias. The fact is that the emperor suffered from a severe form of syphilis, accompanied by dementia.
Subsequent representatives of the Habsburg family began to pursue a policy of tightening the screws: one after another, all the liberties that the loyal and democratic Rudolf II had been so generous with were canceled. In 1618, the political situation in the country became so tense that it resulted in an event called the “Second Prague Window Throwing”: a group of 27 Bohemian nobles threw royal palace two imperial governors and their secretaries. This uprising was one of the reasons for the start of the Thirty Years' War - Protestant Bohemia rebelled against Catholic Austria. The decisive battle in this war was the Battle of White Mountain, which the Protestants lost. More than 30,000 Protestant families were forced to leave the country, and Prague became a provincial town. A “dark era” of economic and cultural stagnation began in the history of the Czech Republic. In this period official language state becomes German, all key positions in the state are transferred to the Germans, and they also occupy leading positions in the economy. Many Czech nobles and intellectuals are leaving the country.

Awakening of the Nation
The period of the reign of the Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa was marked by the awakening of national consciousness, and peasant uprisings swept the entire country. Under Emperors Joseph II and Leopold II, a revival of Czech culture took place: theaters staged plays in the Czech language, and the works of the historian Frantisek Palacky were published. Well aware of the threat created for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Emperor Franz Joseph tries to stop the revolutionary sentiments in the country, but he fails to do this.

First World War and the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Already during the First World War, such prominent Czech political figures as T. Masaryk, E. Beneš and M. Stefanik found refuge first in Switzerland and then in Paris. They manage to convince the allies of the need to create an independent Slavic state between Germany and Austria.
At the end of the war, on October 28, 1918, a significant event took place: the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed in Prague. On November 14 of the same year, its first president, Tomas Masaryk, was elected. In 1935, he was replaced in this post by Eduard Benes.

The Second World War
However, the newly formed state did not last long. After the conclusion of the so-called Munich Treaty of 1938, Nazi Germany captured the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia, populated mainly by Germans. On March 14, 1939, Slovakia declared its independence, and the very next day fascist troops invaded the territory of the Czech Republic. More than 300,000 Czechs and Slovaks died in the camps of the Third Reich, and 200,000 Czechoslovak Jews were killed by the invaders.

The period of communism and the Prague Spring
On May 5, 1945, Red Army troops liberated the Czech Republic from German invaders. Shortly after World War II, the Czechoslovak Republic fell into the Soviet sphere of influence. The democratic parties failed to resist the communists, who received 40% of the votes in the 1946 elections.
Among the many attempts to reform or improve the communist system was the famous “Prague Spring” (1969): in response to the attempt of the Czech communists led by Alexander Dubcek to build “socialism with a human face,” the Warsaw Pact countries sent their troops into Czechoslovakia.

Regime change and collapse of Czechoslovakia
Mass protests and demonstrations that swept the country in the late 80s of the twentieth century were called the “Velvet Revolution”. It was followed by a general strike, leading to regime change. Playwright and former dissident Vaclav Havel became the new president of Czechoslovakia.
On January 1, 1993, due to “insurmountable contradictions,” the Czechoslovak state was peacefully divided into two independent Republics: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These states have always followed different political courses: while Slovakia was guided by the policies of Moscow, Czech Republic was equal to European countries. In 1999, the Czech Republic joined NATO, and in 2004 became a member of the EU. On December 21, 2007, the Czech Republic joined the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement. This means that with a Czech visa you will be able to freely travel to other cities and towns European countries included in the above agreement. By train or by renting a car. The latter option, of course, is better, since it allows you to independently develop an interesting route option for you, change the scenario during the trip and generally feel freedom from any schedules and whims of strangers during your own vacation. It is best to travel around Germany and Austria, combining visits major cities with small provincial ones in order to fully experience the flavor of local life.

Quantity foreign tourists who come to the Czech Republic increases every year. Many tourists who have visited the Czech Republic once return there again and again. People fall in love with this country at first sight, and this love can last a lifetime. Tourists come to the Czech Republic for the unique historical and architectural monuments, magnificent nature, real Czech beer, balneological and ski resorts.

Geography of the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe. In the east, the Czech Republic borders on Slovakia, in the west on Germany, on the south on Austria, and on the north on Poland. total area this country – 78,866 sq. km, and the total length state border– 2,310 km.

In the west of the country in Bohemia there are low mountains - the Giant Mountains, which are structurally included in the Sudetenland mountain range. It is in the Giant Mountains that the highest Czech peak is located - Mount Snezka (1,602 m). In the east of the country in Moravia, the area is hilly with low mountains.

Several rivers flow through the territory of the Czech Republic. big rivers– Elbe, Vltava, Morava, and Odra. Some Czech rivers are an important part of the local national parks Krkonoše, Šumava, Podja, and “Czech Switzerland”.

Capital

The capital of the Czech Republic is Prague, which is now home to about 1.3 million people. Archaeologists believe that the first Slavic settlement on the territory of modern Prague appeared in the 6th century AD.

Official language

The official language in the Czech Republic is Czech, which belongs to the subgroup of West Slavic languages.

Religion

About 30% of the Czech population are Catholics (Roman Catholic Church). Another 2% of Czechs are Protestants, and more than 32% of the Czech population do not believe in God.

Government structure of the Czech Republic

According to the 1990 Constitution, the Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic in which the President is the formal head of state, but his powers are significantly limited. The Prime Minister has significant powers, however, he is appointed by the President and approved by Parliament.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Poslanecká sněmovna (200 deputies) and the Senate (81 people).

Until 2013, the President of the Czech Republic was elected by the country's Parliament, but now this happens by universal popular vote.

Climate and weather

The climate in the Czech Republic is temperate continental with fairly hot summers and cold snowy winters. In the west of the country the average annual air temperature is +7C, and in southern Moravia - +9C. In Prague in July the air temperature can reach +33C, and in the west of the country in February it can drop to -17C.

There is a lot of snow in the Czech mountains in winter, which guarantees a long ski season.

Average air temperature in the Czech Republic:

January - -3C
February - -2C
March - +3C<
April - +8C
May - +13C
June - +16C
July - +18C
August - +17C
September - +14C
October - +8C
November - +3C
December - -1C

Rivers and lakes

Several large rivers flow through the territory of the Czech Republic - the Elbe, Vltava, Morava, and Odra. In addition, there are many natural small lakes in the Czech Republic, as well as about 150 artificial lakes.

Story

Around the 4th century BC. Celtic tribes settled on the territory of modern Czech Republic, but after several centuries they were displaced by Germanic tribes. The Slavs appeared in the Czech Republic at the end of the 5th century AD.

In the 9th century, the heyday of the Czech Republic began, which was associated with the reign of the Přemyslid dynasty. The Czech state managed to actually maintain its independence, although it was a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1085, the Czech prince Vratislav was granted the right to use the royal title by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. However, the independence of the Kingdom of Bohemia was declared only in 1212.

From 1419 to 1436, the religious Hussite wars continued in the Czech Republic, as a result of which the Hussite religion was recognized by Catholics as one of the religions in this country.

Since 1526, the Habsburgs became kings of the Czech Republic, and thus this country became part of the Holy Roman Empire. By the way, the Czech Republic was part of Austria until 1918.

After the end of the First World War in October 1918, a single state was formed from the Czech Republic and Slovakia - Czechoslovakia.

As a result, the so-called In the Munich Agreement of 1939, Czechoslovakia was occupied by German troops. The Germans turned the Czech Republic into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

After the end of World War II, socialist Czechoslovakia was formed. In 1968, the Warsaw Pact countries were forced to send troops into Czechoslovakia to support the socialist system there.

In November 1989, the so-called The Velvet Revolution, which removed the Communist Party from power. Vaclav Havel became the President of Czechoslovakia.

On January 1, 1993, two new independent states appeared on the political map of the world - Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

In 1999, the Czech Republic became a member of the NATO military bloc, and in 2004 it was admitted to the EU.

Czech culture

Czechs are proud of their traditions, and carefully pass them on from generation to generation. Thus, in one of the Moravian villages of Vlchnov, the “Ride of Kings” holiday is still held every year, during which local boys and teenagers ride horses decorated with multi-colored ribbons throughout the area. At the same time, the riders themselves are dressed in traditional folk costumes. The boy king is guarded by two bodyguards with sabers.

The fact is that in the Middle Ages, local princes often traveled to Moravia (and in the vicinity of the village of Vlčnovo), who were real kings for the peasants.

Czechs love to celebrate Walpurgis Night (from April 30 to May 1). Czechs sometimes call this holiday “Witch Burning Night.” Of course, no one has burned witches in the Czech Republic for many centuries. Nowadays, to maintain this ancient custom, Czechs set fire to brooms and throw them into the air (to see how witches used to fly in the air).

Czechs believe that at midnight on May 1st, treasures can be found. However, at this time the forces of evil are capable of harming a person. Therefore, treasure seekers on the night of May 1 need to have a fern leaf on their head (on their face).

Czech cuisine

In recent years, the Czech Republic has begun to pay more attention to healthy eating and various new recipes. However, traditional Czech food recipes are still very popular in the Czech Republic.

“bramborová polevka” - potato soup;
“zelná polevka” - sauerkraut soup;
“kuřecí polevka” - chicken noodle soup;
“hovězí guláš s knedlíkem” - beef goulash with dumplings;
“pečené kuře s brambory” - fried chicken with potatoes;
“knedlíky” - dumplings are made with a variety of fillings;
“jablečný závin” - apple strudel;
Medovník" - cake with honey.

The traditional Czech alcoholic drink is beer. As in some other European countries, beer in the Czech Republic began to be brewed in the early Middle Ages in monasteries. Now Czech beer is famous throughout the world.

Sights of the Czech Republic

For lovers of attractions, the Czech Republic is an ideal country. There are many different attractions in the Czech Republic, and it is difficult for us to choose the best of them. However, in our opinion, the top ten best attractions in the Czech Republic include the following:

Cities and resorts of the Czech Republic

The largest cities in the Czech Republic are Brno, Pilsen, Ostrava, and, of course, Prague.

The Czech Republic is known for its ski resorts with well-developed skiing infrastructure. The most popular Czech ski resorts are Harrachov, Jablonec nad Jizerou, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Spindleruv Mlyn, Pec pod Snezkou, Hruby Jesenik, Velke Losiny, Bozi Dar, and Liberec. Thanks to the large amount of snow, the ski season in the Czech Republic lasts from December to April.

Tourists come to the Czech Republic not only to admire the sights of this country and ski at local ski resorts. There are a large number of mineral springs in the Czech Republic, and, as a result, tourists also come to this country very often for balneological resorts. Karlovy Vary has a reputation as a world-class balneological resort.

Other popular Czech balneological resorts are Marianske Lazne, Františkové Lazne, Jáchymov, Teplice, Luhačovice, and Poděbrady.

Czech po. Czech Republic. Uniting peoples and creating a state