John II of Pernstein
Encyclopedia
John II of Pernstein was a Moravian nobleman and supporter of the Hussites. Later King George of Poděbrady
of Bohemia appointed him to Lord Chamberlain of the District Court at Brno
and in 1473 by the Anti-King Matthias Corvinus made him one of the four governor
s of Moravia
.
. John later inherited some important state offices from his father. John's mother was either William's second wife Agnes of Pottenstein or his third wife Anna of Sternberg.
John II is first mentioned in a document of 1427, when he and his father sold a piece of land to the abbess of the monastery Doubravník
, which had been founded by Štěpán of Medlov, a predecessor of the Pernstein family. In the same year, his father gave him the right to manage his own assets. In 1429, he participated in the Hussite invasion of the Margraviate of Meissen. Meissen was looted and pillaged.
Prior to 1434, John II acquired the lien of Mitrov from Hynek Hlaváč, which he kept at least until 1448, as in that year an entry was made in Landtafel. Between 1434 and 1436, several knight from villages belonging to the Lordship of Pernstein
accused him of occupying their villages illegally. He attempted to settle these feuds. In 1437, King Sigismund
of Bohemia died. Sigismund's son-in-law Albert II was a candidate to succeed him. John opposed this; he and Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein
supported the candidacy of Casimir IV Jagiellon
, the almost eleven years old son of King Władysław III of Poland. Nevertheless, Albert II was elected King of Bohemia.
Probably around 1441, John II married his second wife, Bohunka of Lomnitz
. Her father, John of Lomnitz, transferred the liens on the margraviate fiefs
Zubštejn, Pyšolec and Bistritz
to John II. In 1446, King George of Poděbrady made these liens into hereditary possessions of the Pernstein family. John II also acquired the Lordship of Křižanov
from the heirs of the late Sigmund of Křižanov. He made claims on lands in Tišnov
which had belonged to the Porta coeli Convent before it was destroyed during the Hussite Wars
. In the years 1463, 1467, 1469 and 1470, King George authorized John II and his sons Sigmund, William, Jan and Vratislav the use the usufruct
of these lands.
In 1462, John II purchased the Lordship of Jimramov
from John of Cimburg and Tovačovští and his wife Sophie of Kunštát. He was able to significantly expand his property through acquisitions and liens.
King George of Poděbrady appointed John II in 1460 to Lord Chamberlain of the District Court at Brno
. John II was an expert on Moravian law. John II always remained loyal to King George. After George's death in 1471, however, he switched sides and supported the counter-King Matthias Corvinus. John II was one of the four governors of Moravia Matthias appointed in 1473. Around this time John's second-born son William II of Pernstein
came into the foreground more often. When William II acquired the Lordship of Helfštýn
, John II acted as a witness.
When John died in 1475, he left his sons and his young widow extensive properties. At his request he was buried in the monastery church of Doubravník. His widow remarried in 1480 with Marquart of Lomnitz and after Marquart's death in 1482, with Berthold of Tworkau.
A bible manuscript from the year 1471 in the National Library in Prague is richly decorated with illuminations and contains the coat of arms of John of Pernstein, suggesting that it was commissioned by him. It is therefore referred to as the "Pernstein Bible" .
After Barbara's death (before 1445), John married Bohunka of Lomnitz , who died in 1475. They had the following children:
Before 1475 John married his third wife: Margaret of Vranov (Markéta). His youngest son was born in this marriage:
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
of Bohemia appointed him to Lord Chamberlain of the District Court at 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...
and in 1473 by the Anti-King Matthias Corvinus made him one of the four governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s of 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...
.
Life
John's father, William I of Pernstein was in the service of the Margrave Jobst of MoraviaJobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
. John later inherited some important state offices from his father. John's mother was either William's second wife Agnes of Pottenstein or his third wife Anna of Sternberg.
John II is first mentioned in a document of 1427, when he and his father sold a piece of land to the abbess of the monastery Doubravník
Doubravník
Doubravník is a small town in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 791 ....
, which had been founded by Štěpán of Medlov, a predecessor of the Pernstein family. In the same year, his father gave him the right to manage his own assets. In 1429, he participated in the Hussite invasion of the Margraviate of Meissen. Meissen was looted and pillaged.
Prior to 1434, John II acquired the lien of Mitrov from Hynek Hlaváč, which he kept at least until 1448, as in that year an entry was made in Landtafel. Between 1434 and 1436, several knight from villages belonging to the Lordship of Pernstein
Pernštejn Castle
Pernštejn Castle is a castle located on a rock above the village of Nedvědice and the rivers Svratka and Nedvědička, some 40 km northwest of Brno, in the South Moravian Region, Czech Republic. Pernštejn came to be known as the marble castle because of the marble-like stone used to frame the...
accused him of occupying their villages illegally. He attempted to settle these feuds. In 1437, King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
of Bohemia died. Sigismund's son-in-law Albert II was a candidate to succeed him. John opposed this; he and Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein
Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein was a Bohemian Nobleman, the highest Hofmeister and Münzmeister of Bohemia and regent of Bohemia's royal cities.- Life :...
supported the candidacy of Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
, the almost eleven years old son of King Władysław III of Poland. Nevertheless, Albert II was elected King of Bohemia.
Probably around 1441, John II married his second wife, Bohunka of Lomnitz
Lomnice (Brno-Country District)
Lomnice is a small town in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 1,342 ....
. Her father, John of Lomnitz, transferred the liens on the margraviate fiefs
Fiefs
Fiefs may refer to:* Fiefdom* Fiefs, a commune of the Pas-de-Calais département in northern France...
Zubštejn, Pyšolec and Bistritz
Bystrice nad Pernštejnem
Bystřice nad Pernštejnem is a town in the Vysočina Region, Czech Republic....
to John II. In 1446, King George of Poděbrady made these liens into hereditary possessions of the Pernstein family. John II also acquired the Lordship of Křižanov
Križanov
Křižanov is a small town in Žďár nad Sázavou District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 1,821 ....
from the heirs of the late Sigmund of Křižanov. He made claims on lands in Tišnov
Tišnov
Tišnov is a town in the Czech Republic. It is the birthplace of film director Karel Vachek.-External links:* *...
which had belonged to the Porta coeli Convent before it was destroyed during the Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
. In the years 1463, 1467, 1469 and 1470, King George authorized John II and his sons Sigmund, William, Jan and Vratislav the use the usufruct
Usufruct
Usufruct is the legal right to use and derive profit or benefit from property that either belongs to another person or which is under common ownership, as long as the property is not damaged or destroyed...
of these lands.
In 1462, John II purchased the Lordship of Jimramov
Jimramov
Jimramov is a small town in Žďár nad Sázavou District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 1,185 ....
from John of Cimburg and Tovačovští and his wife Sophie of Kunštát. He was able to significantly expand his property through acquisitions and liens.
King George of Poděbrady appointed John II in 1460 to Lord Chamberlain of the District Court at 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...
. John II was an expert on Moravian law. John II always remained loyal to King George. After George's death in 1471, however, he switched sides and supported the counter-King Matthias Corvinus. John II was one of the four governors of Moravia Matthias appointed in 1473. Around this time John's second-born son William II of Pernstein
William II of Pernstein
William II of Pernstein was a Moravian-Bohemian nobleman. He held the office of High Treasurer of Moravia from 1474 to 1487. He was High Marshall of Bohemia from 1483 to 1490 and Lord Chamberlain of Bohemia from 1490 to 1514.- Youth :...
came into the foreground more often. When William II acquired the Lordship of Helfštýn
Helfštýn
Helfštýn, is a castle 15 km east of Přerov, in the Olomouc region in Central Moravia, Czech Republic. The history of Helfštýn is closely related to the development of the nearby town of Lipník nad Bečvou, which has a number of valuable architectural monuments, among them the classical château and...
, John II acted as a witness.
When John died in 1475, he left his sons and his young widow extensive properties. At his request he was buried in the monastery church of Doubravník. His widow remarried in 1480 with Marquart of Lomnitz and after Marquart's death in 1482, with Berthold of Tworkau.
A bible manuscript from the year 1471 in the National Library in Prague is richly decorated with illuminations and contains the coat of arms of John of Pernstein, suggesting that it was commissioned by him. It is therefore referred to as the "Pernstein Bible" .
Marriage and issue
John of Pernstein was married three times. His first marriage was with Barbara of Waldstein . They had two children:- Sigmund of Pernstein , a supporter of King George of Poděbrady
- Catherine (born: ; died: 1449)
After Barbara's death (before 1445), John married Bohunka of Lomnitz , who died in 1475. They had the following children:
- William IIWilliam II of PernsteinWilliam II of Pernstein was a Moravian-Bohemian nobleman. He held the office of High Treasurer of Moravia from 1474 to 1487. He was High Marshall of Bohemia from 1483 to 1490 and Lord Chamberlain of Bohemia from 1490 to 1514.- Youth :...
(1438-1521), High Treasurer of Moravia and later High Marshall of Bohemia - John (Jan) (-1480)
- Vratislav I († 1496), High Treasurer of Moravia, married in 1488 with Ludmilla (d. 1493), daughter of Jan Heralt of Kunštát
Before 1475 John married his third wife: Margaret of Vranov (Markéta). His youngest son was born in this marriage:
- Emmeram (Jimram) (born: ; died: 1481 or 1482)