Habsburkové a Pardubice

Series of Historical Lectures
The Habsburgs in 16th-Century Czech History

Lecturer: Petr Vorel (University of Pardubice)
What was the relationship between two generations of the Pernštejn lords and the ruling Habsburg dynasty at a time when Pardubice was the Pernštejns’ main residence? Members of the Pernštejn family were personally acquainted with the Czech monarchs Ferdinand I and Maximilian II and communicated with them regularly. In the second quarter of the 16th century, Pardubice Castle was the most magnificent aristocratic residence in Bohemia. The quality of its architecture and the artistic decoration of its interiors aroused the interest of Ferdinand I, who visited Pardubice several times and appreciated its strategic location on the route between Prague and Vienna.
This interest persisted even after the forced sale of Pardubice to King Maximilian of Habsburg during Jaroslav of Pernštejn’s financial crisis (1560). Jaroslav’s brother, Vratislav, then spent several years trying to reclaim Pardubice. From his youth, he had been one of Maximilian II’s closest friends. The final decision was not made until 1566–1567, when Vratislav received the Litomyšl estate in exchange for his native Pardubice, and Maximilian II approved a plan for the costly reconstruction of Pardubice Castle to serve the needs of the royal court.