Wratislaw of Mitrovice

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Wratislaw of Mitrovice
Czech noble family
Current regionBohemia
Earlier spellingsWratislaw z Mitrovicz
Place of originMitrovice,
 Kingdom of Bohemia
Founded1448 (1448)
Titles
List
Estate(s)Dírná Castle

Wratislaw of Mitrovice or Vratislav of Mitrovice (

Czech noble family. The first mentioned member of the family is Wratislaw, who acquired the estate of Mitrovice in 1448. The family gradually gained significance during the 16th century. In the 17th and 18th century, various family members held a number of offices in state administration and diplomacy as well as in the Catholic church. They also built or rebuilt multiple castles and palaces, including the Wratislaws' palace in Prague
.

After the Communist party of Czechoslovakia

Velvet revolution of 1989 and they own it to this day.[1]

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

Václav Wratislaw of Mitrovice (19th century litography)

Next notable member of the family was Wenceslaus, who as a young man accompanied the diplomatic mission of the Emperor

Battle of the White Mountain. Wratislaws of Mitrovice remained involved with the Order of Knights Hospitaler, brothers Adam and Francis even became consecutive grand priors of the Bohemian branch of the order. Denis Francis fought for the Spanish king and – after his return – served as Steward of the Plzeň
County.

Second half of 17th and 18th century

Jan Adam Wratislaw of Mitrovice

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

Eugen II Wratislaw of Mitrovice

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

Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. In 1948, after the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia took power, they lost all of their properties. Part of the family fled persecution to New Zealand.[1] The 31-year-old Count Maximilian Joseph decided to stay. He worked as a woodcutter and a tractor driver.[3] After the Velvet Revolution
, the Count – aged 72 – was given back the Dírná Castle and the Wratislaws of Mitrovice live there to this day.

Notable family members

Notable castles in possession

Dírná Castle
Koloděje nad Lužnicí Castle
  • 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