Chapter IV

THE GROWTH OF BOHEMIAN LIFE FROM ACCESSION OF PR̆EMYSL OTTAKAR
I. TO DEATH OF PR̆EMYSL OTTAKAR II. 67-106

(1198-1278.)

Relative importance of Constitutional questions in different
histories and at different periods--Causes of decline of
early Bohemian liberties--Policy of Pr̆emysl Ottakar I.--The
German settlement in Poric̆--Extension of its privileges
to other towns--Special position of Moravia--The
town-rights of Brünn--The Mongol invasion--Collapse of
Europe--Pope and Emperor--King Wenceslaus I.--First
check of the Mongols--Impulse given by these events to
the movement for municipal liberty--Towns as a check on
the nobles--Power of the jury--Effect of this movement
on trade--On political capacity--Pr̆emysl Ottakar II.--His
relations to nobles and clergy--Difficulties between towns
and monasteries--Ottakar’s policy in that respect--His
foreign policy--Circumstances of the annexation of Austria
to Bohemia--The marriage with Margaret--Relations of
Ottakar to Vienna--The struggle in and conquest of Styria--Story
of conquest of Carinthia and Carniola--Ottakar’s
tyranny in Styria--Ottakar’s relations with Hungary--Anarchy
in the Empire--Refusal of Imperial Crown by
Ottakar--Long discussions and divisions among the
Electors--Circumstances of the election of Rudolf of
Hapsburg--Ottakar’s protest--Pope Gregory X. and Bruno of
Olmütz--The Council of Lyons--Rudolf’s claims on
Ottakar’s conquests--The first war between Ottakar and
Rudolf--Surrender of the conquered lands to
Rudolf--Differences about the terms of peace--Rudolf’s
difficulties between towns and archbishops--Falling off of
Rudolf’s supporters--The conspiracy in Vienna and its
suppression--The final war--Battle of the Marchfeld and
death of Ottakar--Estimate of the work of Pr̆emyslovci--Causes
of Ottakar’s fall.