Chapter V

TIME OF ANARCHY IN BOHEMIA FROM DEATH OF OTTAKAR II. TO
ACCESSION OF CHARLES IV. 107-129

(1278-1346.)

Rudolf’s moderation as a conqueror--Impossibility of his
policy--Kunigunda and Otto of Brandenburg--Treachery
and tyranny of Otto and his followers--The famine--Return
of King Wenceslaus II.--Zavis̆ of Falkenstein--Marriage
of Wenceslaus--Intrigues and death of Zavis̆--Policy
of Wenceslaus--Death of Rudolf and new
divisions in the Empire--Albert’s concessions and election--Relations
of Wenceslaus to Hungary--Death of Wenceslaus
II., and accession and murder of Wenceslaus III.--Struggles
between Rudolf of Hapsburg and Henry of
Carinthia for Bohemia--Election of Henry of Luxemburg
as Emperor--Election of John as King of Bohemia--His
prospects and promises--The Archbishop of Mainz--Henry
of Lipa--The towns and the nobles--Audacity of Henry of
Lipa--Return of John--Civil war in Bohemia--Practical
victory of Henry--His intrigues against Elizabeth--John
and the citizens of Prague--Difficulties of Elizabeth--Prosecution
of Bishop John--Cruelty of John--Charles as
Governor of Bohemia--Intrigues of nobles against him--Resistance
of Charles to John--Friendliness of Pope
Clement to John and Charles--The Slavonic ritual--Election
of Charles as Emperor--Battle of Crecy and
death of John.

VI.

REIGN OF CHARLES IV. 130-153

(1346-1378.)

Difficulties of explaining Charles’s career by his
antecedents--Influences of his Paris experiences on him--Earlier
attempts at “higher education” in Bohemia--Charles’s
aims in founding his University--His plans--The “Four
Nations”--Immediate effects of the foundation--The New
Town of Prague--Foundation of Carlstein--The Majestas
Carolina--Reasons for its withdrawal--Its merits and
defects--Abolition of the fire and water tests--Appeal
granted to the Serfs--Connection of “Charles I.” of
Bohemia with “Charles IV.” of Germany--The Golden
Bull--Resistance to the Emperor, and his way of meeting
it--Concession to the House of Hapsburg--Relations of
Charles with young Louis of Bavaria, in the Tyrol, in
Brandenburg--His relations with Italy, Rienzi, Petrarch--Attempt
to make the German Empire hereditary.