Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein
Encyclopedia
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein (also: Hynek Ptáček of Birkenstein; ; born: 1404; died: 27 August 1444 in Rataje nad Sázavou
) was a Bohemian Nobleman, the highest Hofmeister
and Münzmeister
of Bohemia
and regent
of Bohemia's royal cities
.
and he soon rose to the highest court master and mint master of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the acting regent of the royal cities. As a moderate representative of the Hussites he fought in 1434 in the Battle of Lipan on the side of Prague. After Sigismund's death in 1437 he and George of Poděbrady
, his protégé and future provincial administrator and King of Bohemia, joined the influential group of nobles who boycotted, the election of Sigismund's son Albert II to King of Bohemia. They tried to elect the Polish king Władysław III as the new king of Bohemia. They then nominated Władysław's brother Casimir IV Jagiello, who was only eleven years old at the time. Casimir was elected by the opposition group, but could not prevail against Albert II. Albert II died in 1439 without male heirs, leaving the throne empty.
In 1440, Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein along with other nobles founded the regional Landfried alliance, to maintain the peace. As leader of the alliance, Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein convened a meeting at Čáslav
in 1441, where the alliance decided to take action against the robber baron Jan Kolda of Žampach, who had illegally occupied several possessions in East Bohemia. In 1443 Hynek Ptacek of Pirkstein and Jan Čabelický conquered the Prague Castle
.
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein died in 1444 and was buried in the St. Matthew's Church in Rataje nad Sázavou.
Rataje nad Sázavou
Rataje nad Sázavou is a market town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
) was a Bohemian Nobleman, the highest Hofmeister
Hofmeister (office)
In medieval Europe, a Hofmeister was a house tutor, also responsible for the care of his students beyond their education....
and Münzmeister
Münzmeister
In medieval and early modern Germany, the Münzmeister was the director or administrator of a mint, a moneyer with responsibility for the minting of coins, or specie. His duties were defined differently at different locations and ages.-Middle ages:The need for currency was relatively low during...
of 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...
and regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Bohemia's royal cities
Royal cities
The term Royal City denotes a privilege that some cities in Bohemia and Moravia enjoyed during the Middle Ages. It meant the city was an inalienable part of the royal estate; the king could not sell or pledge the city. At the beginning of the 16th Century, about 40 cities enjoyed this privilege...
.
Life
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein came from a side line of the noble Leipa family. From 1420 he was in possession of Rataje nad SázavouRataje nad Sázavou
Rataje nad Sázavou is a market town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
and he soon rose to the highest court master and mint master of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the acting regent of the royal cities. As a moderate representative of the Hussites he fought in 1434 in the Battle of Lipan on the side of Prague. After Sigismund's death in 1437 he and George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
, his protégé and future provincial administrator and King of Bohemia, joined the influential group of nobles who boycotted, the election of Sigismund's son Albert II to King of Bohemia. They tried to elect the Polish king Władysław III as the new king of Bohemia. They then nominated Władysław's brother Casimir IV Jagiello, who was only eleven years old at the time. Casimir was elected by the opposition group, but could not prevail against Albert II. Albert II died in 1439 without male heirs, leaving the throne empty.
In 1440, Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein along with other nobles founded the regional Landfried alliance, to maintain the peace. As leader of the alliance, Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein convened a meeting at Čáslav
Cáslav
Čáslav is a town in eastern part of Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.- History :History of Čáslav begins after year 800 with founding of citadel and settlement called Hrádek. Near Hrádek, new town with huge square was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in 1250...
in 1441, where the alliance decided to take action against the robber baron Jan Kolda of Žampach, who had illegally occupied several possessions in East Bohemia. In 1443 Hynek Ptacek of Pirkstein and Jan Čabelický conquered the Prague Castle
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here...
.
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein died in 1444 and was buried in the St. Matthew's Church in Rataje nad Sázavou.
Marriage and issue
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein first marriage was with Jitka of Kunštát, a daughter of Heralt of Kunštát (d. 1408). After her death he married Anna (d. 1452), daughter of Chief Mint Master Ulrich V of Neuhaus. With Anna, he had a daughter:- Margaret, married in 1463 Duke VictorVictor of PoděbradyVictor, Duke of Münsterberg Victor, Duke of Münsterberg Victor, Duke of Münsterberg (also: Victor, Duke of Münsterberg and Opava; ; (29 May 1443 in Cieszyn – 30 August 1500 in Cieszyn) was an Imperial Count from 1459 and Count of Kladsko...
of Münsterberg and Troppau, the second of George of Poděbrady.