Boček I of Poděbrady
Encyclopedia
Boček I of Poděbrady was founder of the Poděbrady
line of the House of Kunštát.
and Znojmo
, Boček probably grew up in Moravia
. Before 1350, Boček went to Bohemia
, where he presumably held some office at the court in Prague and acquired the favor of King Charles IV
. In any case he was enfeoffed in about 1350 with some smaller escheat
ed manors. In 1351 or earlier, Boček married Elizabeth of Lichtenburg , a daughter of Henry of Lichtenburg, at Žleby Castle. By this marriage, he came into the possession of the pledged Lordship of Poděbrady
, which he received as a hereditary possession from King Charles IV. In a document dated 1353, he described himself for the first time as Boček of Poděbrady. Later, he called himself Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady, or Lord of Poděbrady. He founded the Poděbrady branch of the House of Kunštát; Poděbrady Castle
was the seat of the family for several generations.
From 1353 to 1358, Boček held the office of cup-bearer
at the court of Charles IV. After he lost the favor of the king, he sought to broaden his family possessions in Bohemia and Moravia. Before 1365 he erected a castle named Obřany Castle in the vicinity of Bystřice pod Hostýnem
in the Hostýnské mountains. It was named after the lost familty seat of the Kunštát family, Obřany Castle in Brno
. As he had built the castle without permission, King Charles IV and his brother, Margrave John Henry
, ordered its destruction.
In Moravia, Boček purchased Potštát
and in 1365 half of the town of Prostějov
. In 1369, he bought the town and castle of Bučovice
from Erhard of Bučovice. Before 1371, he also bought the Litice Castle
in East Bohemia.
Boček died in 1373.
They also had a daughter:
Podiebrad family
The Bohemian Poděbrady family was a noble family in Bohemia, arising from the Lords of Kunštát. After Boček of Kunštát had acquired the Lordship of Poděbrady by marriage, he called himself "Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady". The best known member of the family was George of Poděbrady, who was...
line of the House of Kunštát.
Life
It is not known when and where Boček was born. Because his father, Gerhard (or Heralt) was chamberlain at the courts in BrnoBrno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
and Znojmo
Znojmo
Znojmo is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria, connected to Vienna by railway and road . The royal city of Znojmo was founded shortly before 1226 by King Ottokar I on the plains in front of Znojmo Castle...
, Boček probably grew up in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. Before 1350, Boček went to Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, where he presumably held some office at the court in Prague and acquired the favor of King Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
. In any case he was enfeoffed in about 1350 with some smaller escheat
Escheat
Escheat is a common law doctrine which transfers the property of a person who dies without heirs to the crown or state. It serves to ensure that property is not left in limbo without recognised ownership...
ed manors. In 1351 or earlier, Boček married Elizabeth of Lichtenburg , a daughter of Henry of Lichtenburg, at Žleby Castle. By this marriage, he came into the possession of the pledged Lordship of Poděbrady
Podebrady
Poděbrady is a historical spa town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. It lies on the river Labe 50 km east of Prague on the D11 highway. A historic milestone in the life of the town was the year 1905, when it was visited by the German estate owner Prince von Bülow...
, which he received as a hereditary possession from King Charles IV. In a document dated 1353, he described himself for the first time as Boček of Poděbrady. Later, he called himself Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady, or Lord of Poděbrady. He founded the Poděbrady branch of the House of Kunštát; Poděbrady Castle
Poděbrady Castle
The Poděbrady Castle is a castle in the town of Poděbrady, in the Czech Republic.- History :A wooden Fortress originally stood at the site of the present castle. king Ottokar II of Bohemia replaced it by a stone castle, which became the seat of the Lordship of Poděbrady. King John of Bohemia...
was the seat of the family for several generations.
From 1353 to 1358, Boček held the office of cup-bearer
Cup-bearer
A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and...
at the court of Charles IV. After he lost the favor of the king, he sought to broaden his family possessions in Bohemia and Moravia. Before 1365 he erected a castle named Obřany Castle in the vicinity of Bystřice pod Hostýnem
Bystrice pod Hostýnem
Bystřice pod Hostýnem is a town in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic....
in the Hostýnské mountains. It was named after the lost familty seat of the Kunštát family, Obřany Castle in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
. As he had built the castle without permission, King Charles IV and his brother, Margrave John Henry
John Henry, Margrave of Moravia
John Henry of Luxembourg, Czech: Jan Jindřich, German: Johann Heinrich , was Count of Tyrol from 1335 to 1341 and Margrave of Moravia from 1349 until his death....
, ordered its destruction.
In Moravia, Boček purchased Potštát
Potštát
Potštát is a town in the Olomouc Region, Czech Republic....
and in 1365 half of the town of Prostějov
Prostejov
Prostějov is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Today the city is known for its fashion industry and special military forces based there....
. In 1369, he bought the town and castle of Bučovice
Bucovice
Bučovice is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 6,500 inhabitants.-External links:*...
from Erhard of Bučovice. Before 1371, he also bought the Litice Castle
Litice Castle
Litice Castle is a castle 7 km west of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.-History:The steep slopes of the foothills of the Orlické hory gave the advantage of a strategic position to the gothic castles being founded there at the close of the...
in East Bohemia.
Boček died in 1373.
Family
The his marriage with Elizabeth of Lichtenburg, Boček had three sons:- Boček II of Kunštát and PoděbradyBoček II of PoděbradyBoček II of Poděbrady may have been treasurer or even chief treasurer of Bohemia between 1377 and 1387. Between 1403 and 1408, he held the office of of Bohemia.- Life :It is not known when and where Boček II was born...
(died in 1416) - Henry / Hynek (died after 1376) and
- Ješek (died after 1393)
They also had a daughter:
- Elizabeth (died in 1402), abbess of St. George's Convent, PragueSt. George's Convent, PragueThe Convent of Saint George was a Benedictine convent located in the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. Founded in 973, the convent was next to the seat of ecclesiastical and state power in Bohemia and occasionally the entire Holy Roman Empire, and played an important historical role...