Leslie Massey
Bohemia, a historical country in Central Europe, was a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire and later a province in the Austrian Empire. It was bordered by Austria to the south, Bavaria to the west, Saxony and Lusatia to the north, Silesia to the northeast, and Moravia to the east. Bohemia's history is marked by various rulers and dynasties, including the Habsburgs, who gained control in 1526 and retained it for almost four centuries. In 1918, Bohemia became a crown land within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, retaining its name and formal status as a separate kingdom. After World War I, Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia, and since 1993, it has formed a significant part of the Czech Republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When did Austria take Bohemia? | In 1526, the Habsburg archduke Ferdinand I of Austria laid claim to the throne of Bohemia, thereby establishing Habsburg rule over Bohemia. |
| Area of Bohemia | 52,065 km2 (20,102 sq mi) |
| Current population of Bohemia | About 6.9 million |
| Total population of the Czech Republic | 10.9 million |
| Previous names of Bohemia | Duchy of Great Moravia, independent principality, kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire |
| When did Bohemia become part of Czechoslovakia? | After World War I, Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia |
| When did Bohemia stop being a kingdom? | Bohemia lost its status as a kingdom in 1620 after the Battle of the White Mountain |
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What You'll Learn
Bohemia was a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire
Bohemia was a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire. It was established by the Přemyslid dynasty in the 12th century as the Duchy of Bohemia, and its royal status was recognised in 1212 by the Golden Bull of Sicily issued by Emperor Frederick II.
The Duchy of Bohemia, also known as the Czech Duchy, was a monarchy and a principality of the Holy Roman Empire during the Early and High Middle Ages. It was formed around 870 by Czechs as part of the Great Moravian realm. In 895, Bohemia separated from the disintegrating Great Moravia when Duke Spytihněv swore fealty to the East Frankish king Arnulf. The Duchy became an Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002 when Duke Vladivoj received Bohemia as a fief from the East Frankish king Henry II.
The kingdom reached its greatest extent under Ottokar II, who consolidated control over parts of Austria and waged wars for territory with Hungary, extending Bohemia’s domain to the Adriatic Sea. In 1260, Ottokar defeated Béla IV, king of Hungary, in the Battle of Kressenbrunn near the Morava river. However, Habsburg king Rudolf began to reassert imperial authority in 1273, checking Ottokar's power. Ottokar was killed in an invasion of Austria in 1278, and Bohemia was soon reduced in size and influence.
In 1310, the Luxembourg dynasty began its rule of the kingdom of Bohemia, which by the end of the 14th century included Moravia, Silesia, and Upper and Lower Lusatia as well as the province of Bohemia. In 1355, Charles of Luxembourg, the king of Bohemia, became Holy Roman Emperor as Charles IV. He founded the University of Prague and made the city the capital of the empire, turning it into a principal centre of intellectual and artistic activity in central Europe.
In 1526, Bohemia became part of the Habsburg monarchy, and in 1806, shortly before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the kingdom became part of the newly proclaimed Habsburg Austrian Empire. The Bohemian Kingdom officially ceased to exist in 1918 when it became part of the Czechoslovak Republic. After World War I, German Bohemians demanded that the regions with a German-speaking majority be included in a German state, but Czech political leaders claimed these lands for Czechoslovakia. As a result, all of Bohemia became the core of the newly formed Czechoslovakia.
Since 1993, Bohemia has formed much of the Czech Republic, comprising the central and western portions of the country and over 10 million citizens.
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It was a province in the Austrian Empire
Bohemia has a long and complex history, with many different groups vying for control of the region. At one time, Bohemia was indeed a province in the Austrian Empire, but this was not its only iteration as a distinct region.
Bohemia was initially a duchy of Great Moravia, before becoming an independent principality. It then became a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the Přemyslid dynasty in the 12th century. The 13th century saw the height of Přemyslid power, with Otakar II consolidating control over parts of Austria and waging territorial wars with Hungary, extending Bohemia's influence to the Adriatic Sea.
However, in 1278, Otakar was killed during an invasion of Austria, and Bohemia's power diminished. The Přemyslid dynasty ended in 1306, and subsequent rulers included the House of Luxembourg, the Jagiellonian dynasty, and, from 1526, the House of Habsburg. In 1526, the Habsburg archduke Ferdinand I of Austria laid claim to the throne of Bohemia, beginning almost four centuries of Habsburg rule.
Bohemia retained its name and formal status as a separate Kingdom of Bohemia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. Shortly before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, Bohemia became part of the newly proclaimed Habsburg Austrian Empire. After World War I, Bohemia became part of the newly formed Czechoslovakia, which included Moravia, Czech Silesia, Upper Hungary (present-day Slovakia), and Carpathian Ruthenia.
Today, Bohemia forms much of the Czech Republic, comprising its central and western portions and over 10 million citizens. The region is known for its historic buildings and natural landscapes, with the Šumava "Bohemian Forest" region being part of the largest continuous forest in Europe.
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After World War I, Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia
Bohemia has had a long and dynamic history, with the region witnessing several changes in its political status over the centuries. Once a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire, it later became a part of the Austrian Empire. In the aftermath of World War I, Bohemia's destiny changed once more as it became an integral part of a newly formed country, Czechoslovakia.
The end of World War I saw the dissolution of the Kingdom and the Empire, with the Kingdom of Bohemia ceasing to exist in 1918. This presented an opportunity for the Czechs of Bohemia and Moravia to shape their future. They had previously revolted against Habsburg rule in 1848, and now, with the end of the war, they joined forces with the Slovaks to establish the Republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Bohemia, as the largest and most populous land, became the core of this new country.
The formation of Czechoslovakia, however, was not without its challenges. The German Bohemians demanded that regions with a German-speaking majority be included in a German state. This demand was in direct conflict with the claims of Czech political leaders, who asserted their right to the entire Bohemian lands, including the German-speaking areas. The Czechoslovak army, not bound by the same ceasefire agreements as the German or Austrian troops, was able to occupy many bilingual and purely German-speaking towns, ultimately leading to the absorption of these areas into Czechoslovakia.
The newly formed Czechoslovakia combined Bohemia with other lands, including Moravia, Czech Silesia, Upper Hungary (present-day Slovakia), and Carpathian Ruthenia, into a single state. This marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the region, with Bohemia now playing a pivotal role in the development of an independent Czechoslovak state.
The interwar period saw Czechoslovakia become a liberal democratic republic under its first president, Tomáš Masaryk. However, tensions persisted regarding the relationship between the Czech majority and the German and Hungarian minorities. These tensions would eventually contribute to the Munich Agreement in 1938, which led to the annexation of the Sudetenland, the border regions of Bohemia, to Nazi Germany. Despite these challenges, Bohemia remained a vital part of Czechoslovakia during this period, contributing to the country's industrial and economic development.
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The Kingdom of Bohemia was established by the Přemyslid dynasty
Bohemia, a historical country in Central Europe, was a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire. It was established by the Přemyslid dynasty in the 12th century as the Duchy of Bohemia. The first ruler of the dynasty, Přemysl Ottokar I, was acknowledged as king by Philip of Swabia, the elected King of the Romans, in 1198. This status was later recognised by Otto IV and Pope Innocent III in 1204 and officially confirmed in 1212 by the Golden Bull of Sicily, issued by Emperor Frederick II.
The 13th century was the most dynamic period of the Přemyslid reign over Bohemia. During this time, German Emperor Frederick II's preoccupation with Mediterranean affairs and the dynastic struggles of the Great Interregnum (1254-73) weakened imperial authority in Central Europe, allowing the Přemyslids to exert more power. Přemysl Ottokar II (1253-78) married Margaret of Babenberg, a German princess, and became the Duke of Austria, acquiring Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and part of Styria. He also conquered the rest of Styria, most of Carinthia, and parts of Carniola. He was known as "the king of iron and gold", with the former referring to his conquests and the latter to his wealth. Ottokar's rule extended from Austria to the Adriatic Sea, and he campaigned as far as Prussia, where he founded the city of Královec (now Kaliningrad).
However, Habsburg King Rudolf began to reassert imperial authority in 1273, challenging Ottokar's power. Ottokar faced problems with rebellious nobility in Bohemia and lost all his German possessions in 1276. He was abandoned by part of the Czech nobility and died in the Battle on the Marchfeld against Rudolf in 1278. After his death, the Přemyslid dynasty continued to rule Bohemia until it ended in 1306. The kingdom was then ruled by various dynasties, including the House of Luxembourg, the Jagiellonian dynasty, and, from 1526, the House of Habsburg and its successor, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
In the 19th century, shortly before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, Bohemia became part of the newly proclaimed Habsburg Austrian Empire. From 1867, it was a crown land within the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. After World War I, Bohemia became part of the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia, which included Moravia, Czech Silesia, Upper Hungary (present-day Slovakia) and Carpathian Ruthenia. Since 1993, Bohemia has formed much of the Czech Republic, comprising its central and western portions.
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Bohemia was ruled by the House of Habsburg from 1526
Bohemia has had a long and dynamic history, with various powers ruling the region. In the second century BC, the Romans competed for dominance in northern Italy with the Gallic-Celtic tribe Boii, who gave the country its Latin name, Boiohaemum. The Romans emerged victorious in the battles of Placentia and Mutina in 153-193 BC. Over the centuries, Bohemia was ruled by the Duchy of Bohemia, the House of Luxembourg, the Jagiellonian dynasty, and, from 1526, the House of Habsburg.
The Kingdom of Bohemia was established by the Přemyslid dynasty in the 12th century. The 13th century was the most dynamic period of the Přemyslid reign over Bohemia. During this time, Přemysl Ottokar II, who was called "the king of iron and gold", married a German princess, Margaret of Babenberg, and became the duke of Austria. He acquired Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and part of Styria. He also conquered the rest of Styria, most of Carinthia, and parts of Carniola. He campaigned as far as Prussia, where he founded a city he named Královec in Czech, which later became Königsberg (now Kaliningrad).
In 1260, Ottokar defeated Béla IV, the king of Hungary, in the Battle of Kressenbrunn near the Morava River. He ruled an area from Austria to the Adriatic Sea. However, from 1273, the Habsburg king Rudolf began to reassert imperial authority, checking Ottokar's power. Ottokar lost all his German possessions in 1276 and died in the Battle on the Marchfeld against Rudolf in 1278.
In 1526, the Habsburg dynasty succeeded to the throne of Bohemia, marking the beginning of almost four centuries of Habsburg rule for both Bohemia and Hungary. The Bohemian estates elected Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, the younger brother of Emperor Charles V, to succeed Louis as king of Bohemia. This incorporation of Bohemia into the Habsburg monarchy was against the resistance of the local Protestant nobility and sparked the 1618 Defenestration of Prague and the Thirty Years' War.
The defeat of the Bohemian Estates at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 led to the centralization of the Habsburg Empire and the loss of Bohemia's independence for almost 300 years. Bohemia was subjected to the absolutist rule of the Habsburgs, and Protestantism was suppressed. The country lost its status as a kingdom, and most of the population gradually converted to Roman Catholicism. Bohemia was also stripped of the two Lusatias in 1635 and of Silesia in the mid-18th century. By the early 20th century, Bohemia had been thoroughly absorbed into the Austrian Empire.
After World War I and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bohemia became part of the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia, which combined Bohemia, Moravia, Czech Silesia, Upper Hungary (present-day Slovakia), and Carpathian Ruthenia into one state. Since the end of World War II, Bohemia has formed a significant part of the Czech Republic, comprising its central and western portions and over half of its citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
Bohemia was first taken by Austria in the 13th century when it was ruled by Ottokar II, who consolidated control over parts of Austria and waged wars for territory with Hungary, extending Bohemia’s domain to the Adriatic Sea.
No, after Ottokar II was killed in an invasion of Austria in 1278, Bohemia was once again reduced in size and influence, and the Přemyslid dynasty came to an end in 1306.
Yes, Bohemia was taken by Austria multiple times after the 13th century. In 1526, the Habsburg archduke Ferdinand I of Austria laid claim to the throne, thereby establishing Habsburg rule over Bohemia. In 1619, Bohemian and Moravian troops invaded Austria, but they were forced to retreat and imperial troops advanced into Bohemia. In 1620, Bohemia was once again defeated by Austria at the Battle of White Mountain, and it was subsequently subjected to the absolutist rule of the Habsburgs.
