House of Rosenberg

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Lords of Rose, wallpainting of Mikoláš Aleš. Rožmberk is in middle

The southern Bohemian Rosenberg (in Czech "Rožmberk") dynasty was initially founded by Vitek III, who was the son of Vitek of Prcice. The Vítkovci, an old and significant noble Bohemian family originally settled the region of south Bohemia as the Lords of Krumlov.

In about 1250, the Vitkovci settled the Rožmberk castle in the region of Cesky Krumlov, then in about 1253 erected the Český Krumlov castle. The Krumlov castle thus became the residence of the Lords of Rožmberk for the next three hundred years. It was the Rožmberks who influenced to a great extent the appearance of south Bohemia.

The Rožmberks ranked among the most significant and influential Bohemian noble families. Their members held posts at the Czech and imperial court and went down in Bohemian history in a significant manner.

The Coat of arms and emblem of this family was represented by a red five-petalled rose in a silver field which is still often seen in a considerable part of south Bohemia. Petr I. of Rožmberk held the post of the superior chamberlain at the court of John of Bohemia. His wife was a widow of the Czech King Václav III.

Another significant personage of the family was Jindrich III. of Rožmberk, a son of Oldřich I. - who lead the Union of Nobility, which was displeased by the reign of King Václav IV.

Jindrich's son Oldřich II. of Rožmberk was a member of the Bohemian nobility who defended the interests of Bohemian catholic nobility and of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor during the times of the Hussite wars.

A daughter of Oldřich II. was Perchta of Rožmberk, who is identified with the Rožmberks "White Lady" ghost tales, and current residents of the area still report seeing Perchta's spirit around the castle.

The decline of the House of Rožmberk began with Vilem and Petr Vok, the sons of Jošt III., both being raised in the guardianship of their uncle Petr V.

Vilem of Rožmberk is generally considered the most significant representative of the family, making the Český Krumlov area the center of southern Bohemian cultural and political life.

After Vilem's death in 1592, his younger brother Petr Vok assumed the position as reigning Lord. In 1601, he was forced to sell the Krumlov castle to the king Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. Petr Vok transferred his residence after the sale to Třeboň where he died in 1611. Petr Vok brought to a close the three-hundred-year-long reign of one of the most influential Bohemian noble families - the Rožmberks.

[edit] References

VESELÁ, Lenka. Knihy na dvoře Rožmberků. Praha : Knihovna Akademie věd ČR : Scriptorium, 2005. 359 s. ISBN 80-86675-06-8 (KNAV). ISBN 80-86197-60-3 (Scriptorium).
Václav Březan: Životy posledních Rozmberků. (aus dem Manuskript hrsg. v. Jaroslav Pánek). Praha 1985.
Jaroslav Pánek: Poslední Rožmberkové. Velmoži české renesance. Praha 1989.