BRIEF HISTORY OF CZECH REPUBLIC
(particularly in respect to religion)
BY BECKY CHAPLIN

863  -   Cyril & Methodius come to this land to spread Christianity and help establish the Czech language

900 - 1300 (appr. 400 years)  -  RULE OF PREMYSLID DYNASTY
                                        929 or 935 "Good King Wenceslas" is murdered
                                        880 - 890 Prague Castle founded

1300 - 1458 RULE OF LUXEMBURGS (from Luxemburg) (John, Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, Sigismund) (A sister of the last Premyslid King is married to the King of Luxemburg, and thus the Luxemburgs come to power in Bohemia)

1348 - 1378 - Rule of KING CHARLES IV - MOST FAMOUS KING OF BOHEMIA
    Charles makes Prague his capital and builds much--University established, New Town, Charles Bridge, etc.  Charles builds in the Gothic style.  This is considered Prague's "Golden Age."

HUSSITE MOVEMENT FROM 1400 - 1620
    The Hussite movement is VERY IMPORTANT for Czech history.  JOHN HUS was burned in 1415 by the Catholic church for heresy.

1) The Hussite movement was religious - The followers of Hus rejected the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church; they rejected the authority and rule of the Priests and Popes and embraced the "priesthood" of all believers.  At one time over 70% of Bohemia was protestant.  Bohemia was the first protestant land--the forerunner of the Reformation in Germany with Luther.

2) The Hussite movement was political - The Hussites began to reject the idea of domination by foreign kings and became militant, wanting more freedom and self-rule.  The city of Tabor was established as their headquarters.  When King Wenceslas IV died in 1419, they would not submit to the next Luxemburg successor, King Sigismund.  King Sigismund lead 5 crusades against the Hussites, but could not defeat them. (a miracle)  Finally, after 15 years, in 1436, King Sigismund made peace with the Hussites, granted them concessions, and established the "Bohemian Diet" with representation that allowed for some self-rule.  The Hussites then accepted his rule, but his rule was greatly limited by the Bohemian Diet.

1458 - 1471 - RULE OF BOHEMIAN KING GEORGE
    When King Sigismund dies, the Bohemian Diet rejects foreign kings and elects George from Podebrady, a Bohemian leader of the Hussites, as king.  This represents an exceptional event in Czech history, since the crown reposes on the head of a man who does not come from a dynastic family and who is regarded as a heretic by nearly all of Europe.  This is a time when Europe is governed by "Royal" families and the powerful Catholic church.  The reformation has not yet come to the rest of Europe.  (The Reformation gains momentum in Germany around the 1520's with Luther.)  The idea of any type of democracy is alien.  King George tries to establish peaceful co-existence between the Hussites and Catholics.  The Catholic church spurns him, however, and calls on all "Christians" to renew their fight with the Hussites.

1471 - 1526 - POLISH KINGS - JAGIELLO DYNASTY (Vladislav, Louis)
    Upon King George's death, the Bohemian Diet, respecting the wish of King George, elects the Polish King as their king.  Two Polish kings reign.

1526 - 1918  RULE OF HAPSBURGS OF AUSTRIA   (400 years)
    The Bohemian Diet (now called Bohemian Estates) elects the Austrian King of the Hapsburg dynasty as their King when the second Jagiello king dies.

For the next 400 years the Hapsburgs of Austria would rule the Czech lands.  The Hapsburg kings become more powerful and support the Catholic church.  Finally they would no longer tolerate either the religious or political ideas of the Hussites and DECISIVELY defeat the Hussites in 1620.  Protestantism is outlawed and all political power given to the Hapsburgs and the Catholic  church.  Property is confiscated from protestants and any who had opposed the Hapsburgs.  In addition German is made the official language.  21 protestant leaders are executed in 1621 as "an example," and many more imprisoned.  Literally tens of thousands of people immigrate from the Czech lands.  All the intellectuals leave, leaving mostly serfs who are forced to convert to Catholicism.  The great Christian Educator COMMENIUS is forced to flee at this time.  This is known as the "DARK AGES" of Czech history.  The Reformation dies out and the Czechs lose their religion, their scholars, and their sovereignty.

The Hapsburgs build or reconstruct much of Prague and other areas with the Baroque style architecture.  There is LARGE SCALE construction of Baroque style Catholic churches all over the Czech land.

Towards the end of the 1700's a Czech national revival begins to take place (pride once again in being Czech and in the Czech language and culture).  A "Czech" University is allowed to be established.  Some cultural events are allowed to be done in the Czech language, although German remains the official language.  In the 1800's as the rest of the world began to embrace some form of democracy, the Hapsburgs are forced to allow at least some degree of self-rule.

1918 - 1939  CZECHOSLOVAKIA  (Independent State)
    After World War I, the Czech lands are made an independent state, Czechoslovakia.  The Czech language becomes the official language.  Czechoslovakia expands her industrial and agricultural base and becomes one of the ten most developed states in the world.  Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia in 1939.  Czechoslovakia, therefore,  is only an independent state for approximately 20 years.

1939 - 1989  WORLD WAR II and then COMMUNIST OCCUPATION
    Under Communism all religion is discouraged.  The Roman Catholic church loses any influence it might still have had.  Most of the people gradually become atheists.  Architecture and art decline--the communists build cheap, panel-style apartment buildings.  Property is confiscated and becomes part of the state.

1989 - 1992  CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Independent State once again)
    Religious and political freedom is once again established in November 1989 revolution.  Property is slowly and systematically given back to original owners or their families.

1993 - present  DIVISION INTO CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA
    Beginning January 1993, Czechoslovakia divides into two separate independent states--Czech Republic and Slovakia.  Economic prosperity returns to the Czech lands through tourism, privatization of property, and foreign investments.  Most of the people remain atheists.

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Last modified: 09/02/08