Early History
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As the centuries past, German tribes settled in the area, and later, Slavic people arrived. In the late 9th century, the Bohemian state emerged. Wenceslas was the ruler for 14 years, starting in 921 A.D
In the early 13th century Germans immigrated to the Czech lands in large numbers. The Czech throne was taken by John of Luxembourg in 1310. He ruled the country until 1346, and during his time as ruler, the Czech lands expanded and Prague, The Czech Republic's biggest city, continued to grow. His son, Charles IV, lead his people into the best time of their history. He established Prague as the cultural capital of central Europe and made it one of the most successful European cities at the time. After that, Charles IV was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355. Today, Charles IV is known as the greatest Czech king and the "father of the Czech nation." So without him,
In the 15th century problems between the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church triggered. One of the reform leaders, John Hus, preached rebellious things that triggered the Catholic Church, and he was publicly burned at the stake in 1415. Reactions to the killing were strong. Protests followed and then came the Hussite Wars. The followers of John Hus defeated heavily armored knights and claimed several victories. In 1534, the war ended.
In 1526, Ferdinand I of Habsburg took up the Czech throne, consequently Bohemia became increasingly under the control of the Habsburgs, one of the most important aristocratic royal houses of Europe, best known for being the origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740.
Revolts by the Catholics against the Habsburgs in 1618 marked the start of the Thirty Years' War, which quickly spread throughout Central Europe. In Prague, Protestant leaders were executed on the Old Town Square and all religions except Christianity were banned.
In 1620, the rebellion in Bohemia was crushed, but the war had devastating effects as the Czech language was suppressed for the next 150 years. This was the 'dark age' in Czech history. Marie Therese of Austria and her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. Together they ruled from 1740 to 1790, reducing the power of the Catholic Church, and granting political and religious rights to religious minorities.
Near the end of the 18th century national pride emerged as a popular (and successful) movement surfaced to finally bring the Czech language, culture and national identity back to life. That pride stretched into the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century as factories were constructed, new railways opened and a level of stability returned.
In the early 13th century Germans immigrated to the Czech lands in large numbers. The Czech throne was taken by John of Luxembourg in 1310. He ruled the country until 1346, and during his time as ruler, the Czech lands expanded and Prague, The Czech Republic's biggest city, continued to grow. His son, Charles IV, lead his people into the best time of their history. He established Prague as the cultural capital of central Europe and made it one of the most successful European cities at the time. After that, Charles IV was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355. Today, Charles IV is known as the greatest Czech king and the "father of the Czech nation." So without him,
In the 15th century problems between the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church triggered. One of the reform leaders, John Hus, preached rebellious things that triggered the Catholic Church, and he was publicly burned at the stake in 1415. Reactions to the killing were strong. Protests followed and then came the Hussite Wars. The followers of John Hus defeated heavily armored knights and claimed several victories. In 1534, the war ended.
In 1526, Ferdinand I of Habsburg took up the Czech throne, consequently Bohemia became increasingly under the control of the Habsburgs, one of the most important aristocratic royal houses of Europe, best known for being the origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740.
Revolts by the Catholics against the Habsburgs in 1618 marked the start of the Thirty Years' War, which quickly spread throughout Central Europe. In Prague, Protestant leaders were executed on the Old Town Square and all religions except Christianity were banned.
In 1620, the rebellion in Bohemia was crushed, but the war had devastating effects as the Czech language was suppressed for the next 150 years. This was the 'dark age' in Czech history. Marie Therese of Austria and her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. Together they ruled from 1740 to 1790, reducing the power of the Catholic Church, and granting political and religious rights to religious minorities.
Near the end of the 18th century national pride emerged as a popular (and successful) movement surfaced to finally bring the Czech language, culture and national identity back to life. That pride stretched into the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century as factories were constructed, new railways opened and a level of stability returned.