Charles Iv: 700Th Birthday

On May 14th, 1316, Charles IV, the Czech Rex as well as the Holy Roman Emperor, was born. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 decade ago, the Czech populace chose him as the "Greatest Czech" inward a poll, after the universal genius Jára da Cimrman was eliminated because of around anti-quantum zealous complaints concerning his "reality". ;-)

Charles IV was extremely educated, did a lot of uncontroversially groovy things for this golden era of the Czech kingdom, as well as as importantly, he did quite something to grow the fame as well as royal influence of our kingdom, too. Just to live sure, we're non i of those nations that reckon imperialism to live an insult.




Charles IV isn't actually celebrated exterior Czech Republic fifty-fifty though he was a classic Cosmopolitan figure. He would likely disagree that nosotros telephone telephone him the "Greatest Czech". Maybe he would prefer to live called a European. He for sure exceeded the importance of the regular Czechs of his fourth dimension – as well as most other times.




Charles came from the House of Luxembourg. When he was alive, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg belonged to the Visegrád Group. The grouping was kickoff estabished inward 1335 as well as Charles attended as a immature political big shot, certain to boot the bucket real of import soon, along amongst his father. And the expectations almost the 19-year-old guy turned out to live spot on.

(These days, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is no longer a fellow member of the Visegrád Group. In fact, Jean Asselborn, the unusual government minister of Luxembourg, simply told the High German media that whenever he hears almost the views of the Visegrád Group countries, his psychiatric affliction explodes as well as he starts to outflow over the room similar a slice of beheaded poultry. I promise that the translation from High German was accurate.)

Charles IV received a luxurious French didactics (he became a pet of the French Rex as well as was donated around French aristocratic babes etc.) as well as he spoke 5 languages: Latin, Czech, German, French, as well as Italian. His years inward French Republic were of import for his grapheme – as well as the centralized organization of governing was i of the things he has learned inward France. He was the kickoff Bohemian Rex who became the Holy Roman Emperor (well, he was the Roman-German Rex since 1346 as well as Roman emperor since 1355). He has also been the Rex of Italy/Lombardia, Burgundy, as well as the Moravian margrave, of course.



In 1348, he founded the 3rd oldest academy inward Europe, my Alma Mater, Charles University. You may bring heard of the Charles Bridge, too. (Many eggs were used for the construction.) He had a especial attachment to my portion of Western Bohemia. So it isn't quite a coincidence that the Karlštejn Castle is West from Prague



as well as additional castles, Radyně a few miles from Pilsen as well as Kašperk inward the Bohemian Forest, belong to the Western Bohemian regions, too.

There were things exterior Bohemia he founded such as Montecarlo, unfortunately i inward fundamental Italy, away from Monaco. ;-) Add Lauf inward Bavaria...



Charles IV is currently on the CZK 100 = $4.20 banknote.

But he also built the New Town of Prague, straight off i of the classic fundamental neighborhoods inward Prague downtown. Even 650 years later, it's notwithstanding the newest amidst the 5 towns combining to the historical midpoint of the Czech working capital alphabetic quality as well as nosotros bring no argue to modify anything almost the "new town" terminology.

In Prague, i shouldn't forget The Church of Our Lady [Mary] of the Snows as well as the foundation rock of the St Vitus Cathedral, the dominant object within the Prague Castle whose structure was solely completed inward the belatedly 1920s.

Charles IV also hired people to exercise the newest Bohemian crown – the principal Czech crown jewel – for his coronation. He has done real many things similar that.



His political influence was far-reaching but i must distinguish his leisure-time hobbies, similar his existence the Holy Roman Emperor, from the actual territories that belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia. As the map to a higher house shows, Charles IV incorporated a nontrivial component of East Germany. So he was explicitly expanding inward the Northern direction.

If yous spotter the animated historical maps, this must live contrasted amongst the previous, 13th century when the Czech kingdom was expanded inward the Southern management as well as included much of Austria, Italy, as well as Yugoslavia – as well as touched the Adriatic Sea. Between 1301 as well as 1305, Prague controlled most of Eastern Europe. But the map vastly overestimates the influence of Wenceslaus II who was the Rex at that fourth dimension – he was accidentally elected the Polish as well as Hungarian king.

Charles IV belonged to a higher league.

Two weeks ago, at that topographic point was a radio debate betwixt Charles IV as well as Louis IV the Bavarian almost the Pope, ability struggles, as well as marriages inward their families. I institute it pretty funny.