Wratislaw of Mitrovice
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Czech. (June 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (June 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Wratislaw of Mitrovice | |
---|---|
Czech noble family | |
Current region | Bohemia |
Earlier spellings | Wratislaw z Mitrovicz |
Place of origin | Mitrovice, Kingdom of Bohemia |
Founded | 1448 |
Titles | List
|
Estate(s) | Dírná Castle |
Wratislaw of Mitrovice or Vratislav of Mitrovice (
After the Communist party of Czechoslovakia
History
15th century
Wratislaws of Mitrovice claimed to be descendants of Vratislaus II, the first king of Bohemia who ruled in 11th century. There is no evidence for this claim and historians therefore consider this to be an example of etiological myth.[1] First documented member of the family is Wratislaw, who bought the estate of Mitrovice in 1448 and thus established the family name. He sided with Oldřich of Hradec in his dispute with king George of Poděbrady, that followed the imprisonment of Oldřich's father. Despite this, he later became the burgrave of the Prague Castle. His son John later held the court office of Master of the Hunt.[2]
16th and first half of 17th century
Next notable member of the family was Wenceslaus, who as a young man accompanied the diplomatic mission of the Emperor
Second half of 17th and 18th century
Another notable member – Jan Václav – was an imperial diplomat, operating primarily in England. He was appointed Chancellor of the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1705 and served till his death 6 years later. Jan Adam chose a church career. He was first Bishop of Hradec Králové, then Bishop of Litoměřice. His younger brother John Joseph was later appointed Bishop of Hradec Králové as well. He built a brand new baroque castle he called Nové Mitrovice. The family also owned the Wratislaws' palace in Malá Strana in Prague and multiple other castles and estates.[3] It was at this time – at the start of the 18th century – that the Wratislaws of Mitrovice reached the peak of their wealth and power.
19th, 20th century and present times
In the 19th century, the Wratislaws of Mitrovice became supporters of the Czech National Revival. Count Joseph Wratislaw of Mitrovice, Supreme Marshal of the Kingdom of Bohemia at the time, was an important patron of the National Museum. Eugen II was the chairman of National Theatre Society and member of Parliament of the Kingdom of Bohemia.
William Ferdinand Wratislaw – descendant of a Czech emigrant to England – came back to Bohemia to prove his descendancy from the noble family of Wratislaws of Mitrovice, but was unable to find a firm proof.[3] Nonetheless, he and his son Albert Wratislaw were Czech patriots and the latter went on to translate and popularize many Czech literary works in the English speaking world.
At the start of the 20th century, only two branches of the family remained. One lived at the Dírná Castle and Myslkovice Castle, the other at Koloděje nad Lužnicí Castle. In 1938, Wratislaws of Mitrovice co-signed the
Notable family members
- Václav Wratislaw of Mitrovice (1576–1635), diplomat, author of Adventures of Baron Václav Wratislaw of Mitrovice – a popular account of his experiences during his diplomatic visit and subsequent captivity in the Ottoman Empire
- Jan Václav Wratislaw of Mitrovice (c. 1670–1712), diplomat, Chancellor of Kingdom of Bohemia
- Bishop of Litoměřice
- Bishop of Hradec Králové
- Josef Wratislaw of Mitrovice, (1764–1830) Supreme Marshal of the Kingdom of Bohemia
- Eugen Wratislaw of Mitrovice (1786–1867), Field Marshall of the Austrian Army
- Eugen II Wratislaw of Mitrovice (1842–1895), Member of Parliament of the Kingdom of Bohemia
Notable castles in possession
- Liteň Castle (1571–1648, 1728–1782)
- Protivín Castle (1598–1679)
- Dírná Castle (1623–1948, 1990–today)
- Lojovice Castle (1627–1646)
- New Mitrovice Castle (1670–1685, 1724–1804)
- Wratislaws' Palace, Prague (1671–1861)
- Koloděje nad Lužnicí Castle (1737–?)
- Kost Castle (1779–1867)
- Čimelice Castle (1782–1823)
- Votice Castle (1807–1872)
- Vrchotovy Janovice Castle (1807–1879)
- Tochovice Castle (1815–1840)
References
- ^ ISBN 80-85770-79-2.
- ISBN 978-80-86781-11-2.
- ^ ISBN 80-204-0760-X.