Royal cities
Encyclopedia
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. The citizens of these cities had a higher position in the estates of the realm
than any other subjects.
A similar status was the (plural ); these were a source of income for the Queen. Another source of income for the king were cities with the status of (plural ), but these were not inalienable and had a lesser status. These cities had a duty of socage
. Originally, this meant that each citizen had to work the kings land a certain number of days each year, but this was soon replaced by a cash payment.
The precise rights and duties of the citizens differed considerably from city to city. They depended on the status of the city. Even among the citizens, there was a hierarchy, which was reflected in income, the order at the Last Supper and the seat in the church, but also at the location of the house.
Privilege
A privilege is a special entitlement to immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth...
that some cities in 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 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...
enjoyed during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. 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
16th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century lasted from 1501 to 1600. It is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred....
, about 40 cities enjoyed this privilege. The citizens of these cities had a higher position in the estates of the realm
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
than any other subjects.
A similar status was the (plural ); these were a source of income for the Queen. Another source of income for the king were cities with the status of (plural ), but these were not inalienable and had a lesser status. These cities had a duty of socage
Socage
Socage was one of the feudal duties and hence land tenure forms in the feudal system. A farmer, for example, held the land in exchange for a clearly defined, fixed payment to be made at specified intervals to his feudal lord, who in turn had his own feudal obligations, to the farmer and to the Crown...
. Originally, this meant that each citizen had to work the kings land a certain number of days each year, but this was soon replaced by a cash payment.
Citizens of the royal cities
Citizens of the royal cities had a special social status. It took a legal deed to become citizen. If the applicant purchased a home, or lived in te city for a logn time, or could prove good ancestry and a decent family life and, if he had been a subject, could show a release certificate, then the applicant had a chance to be admitted to this privileged class. There were other ways to obtain this status: one could purchase it, or marry into it. Sometimes a city would offer citizenship, especially to educated inhabitants.The precise rights and duties of the citizens differed considerably from city to city. They depended on the status of the city. Even among the citizens, there was a hierarchy, which was reflected in income, the order at the Last Supper and the seat in the church, but also at the location of the house.
Royal cities in Bohemia and Moravia
Czech name, German name, and year of appointment:- UničovUnicovUničov is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 12,400 inhabitants.Villages Benkov, Brníčko, Dětřichov, Dolní Sukolom, Horní Sukolom, Nová Dědina, Renoty, and Střelice are administrative parts of Uničov....
(Mährisch Neustadt) 1213 - BruntálBruntálBruntál is a town located near the western boundary of Moravian-Silesian Region, in Czech Silesia. A suitable position in the middle of the Jeseníky Mountains provides an ample number of touristic opportunities to the town...
(Freudenthal) 1223 - OpavaOpavaOpava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
(Troppau) vor 1224 - Hradec KrálovéHradec KrálovéHradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
(Königgrätz) 1225 - ZnojmoZnojmoZnojmo 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...
(Znaim) 1226 - JemniceJemniceJemnice is a town in Třebíč District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. Population: 4,340 ....
(Jamnitz) etwa 1227 - HodonínHodonínHodonín is a town on the River Morava in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region. The population is 26,226 . Hodonín was first mentioned in 1046. In 1228 it became a town...
(Göding) etwa 1228 - LitoměřiceLitomericeLitoměřice is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe and Ohře in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km northwest of Prague....
(Leitmeritz) 1228–1230 - BzenecBzenecBzenec is a town in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region. The population is 4,305 . Bzenec was first mentioned in 1015 . In 1330 it became a town.- Districts :* Bzenec* Domanín...
(Bisenz) 1231 - Staré Město (Prager Altstadt) 1235–1245
- BrnoBrnoBrno 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...
(Brünn) 1238, 1240 - StříbroStríbroStříbro is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic, some to the west from the region capital of Pilsen.Stříbro is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence....
(Mies) 1240 - LoketLoketLoket is a town of some 3 000 inhabitants in the Sokolov District in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic.Loket means "elbow" in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an...
(Elbogen) 1240–1253 - ŽatecŽatecŽatec is an old town in the Czech Republic, in Louny District, Ústí nad Labem Region. It has a population of 19,813 .The earliest historical reference to Sacz is in the Latin chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg of 1004. During the 11th century it belonged to the Vršovci - a powerful Czech...
(Saaz) 30. November 1265 - PřerovPrerovPřerov is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic where the Bečva river flows through. Přerov is a statute town . It has population of about 47,373 to January 2, 2008. Přerov is about 22 km south west of Olomouc. In the past it was a major crossroad in the heart of Moravia in the...
(Prerau) 1252 - OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
(Ölmütz) 1253 - JihlavaJihlavaJihlava is a city in the Czech Republic. Jihlava is a centre of the Vysočina Region, situated on the Jihlava river on the ancient frontier between Moravia and Bohemia, and is the oldest mining town in the Czech Republic, ca. 50 years older than Kutná Hora.Among the principal buildings are the...
(Iglau) 1253 - PísekPísekPísek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
(Pisek) 1256 - KolínKolínKolín is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic some east from Prague, lying on the Elbe river.-History:Kolín was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1261. Later on, 1437, a castle was founded here...
(Kolin, also known as Cologne on the Elbe) 1253–1261 - KouřimKourimKouřim is a small town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. It is located 45 km east of Prague and has a population of 1,769 ....
(Gurim, older: Kaurzim) 1253–1261 - MostMostMost is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
(Brüx) before 1257 - Uherské HradištěUherské HradišteUherské Hradiště is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Morava river and is the seat of the Uherské Hradiště District.- History :...
(Ungarisch Hradisch) 13. November 1257 - ČáslavCáslavČáslav 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...
(Tschaslau) circa 1260 - ChrudimChrudimChrudim is a city in eastern Bohemia, in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic.The oldest archaeological findings which provide first signs of the settlement in this area date back to the 5th millennium BC. Various cultures succeeded one on another in the territory of today’s town of Chrudim...
(–) circa 1260 - KlatovyKlatovyKlatovy is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.Klatovy is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and Municipality with Commissioned Local Authority.- History :Klatovy was founded during 1260–1263 by Přemysl Otakar II....
(Klattau) before 1260 - Vysoké MýtoVysoké MýtoVysoké Mýto is a town in the Pardubice Region, Czech Republic. Founded in 1262 by the Bohemian king, Přemysl Otakar II, it is situated near its original location, called Vraclav. Vysoké Mýto is a centre of tourism, due to its architectural monuments and the nature that surrounds it. Industrial...
(Hohenmauth) circa 1260 - Ústí nad LabemÚstí nad LabemÚstí nad Labem is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Ústí nad Labem Region. The city is the 7th-most populous in the country.Ústí is situated in a mountainous district at the confluence of the Bílina and the Elbe Rivers, and, besides being an active river port, is an important railway junction...
(Aussig) circa 1260 - LounyLounyLouny is a town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It is situated on the River Ohře.-History:The city was founded in the 12th century . The Church of St Peter stands on the site of the original fort...
(Laun) after 1260 - KadaňKadanKadaň , is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The city lies on the banks of the river Ohře. Although it is situated in an industrial part of the Czech Republic there is no major industry within the city and people usually work in offices or have to commute. There are two...
(Kaaden) before 1261 - DomažliceDomažliceDomažlice is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.Domažlice is also a Municipality with Extended Competence and a Municipality with Commissioned Local Authority within the same borders.-History:...
(Taus) circa 1262 - České BudějoviceCeské BudejoviceČeské Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
(Böhmisch Budweis) 1265 - PoličkaPolickaPolička is a town on Bohemia-Moravia borderline in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has cca 10,000 inhabitants. It is about 17 km west of Svitavy.- History :Polička was founded in the year 1265 by Bohemian king Přemysl Otakar II...
(Politschka) 1265 - ChotěbořChoteborChotěboř is a town in the Havlíčkův Brod District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. It belongs to the historical land of Bohemia. Population: 9,739 .- External links :*...
(Chotieborsch) 1265–1278 - Ostrov nad Ohří (Schlackenwerth) 1269
- LitovelLitovelLitovel is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 10,000 inhabitants. Litovel lies in Upper-Moravian Vale , 233 metres above the sea level. Thanks to its rich history Litovel has many historical monuments.-Demographics:Source: -Town Hall:The Town Hall lies on Přemysl...
(Littau) 1270 - Uherský BrodUherský BrodUherský Brod is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It is situated in the south-east of Moravia . It lies in the Vizovice Highlands and near the White Carpathian Mountains ....
(Ungarisch Brod) 1272 - NymburkNymburkNymburk is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located 45 km east of Prague on the Elbe River. It is also home to the Czech men's basketball team ČEZ Basketball Nymburk...
(Nimburg, also known as Neuenburg on the Elbe) 1276 - TachovTachovTachov is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Mže River, some to the west from the region capital of Pilsen....
(Tachau) 1253–1278 - Dvůr Králové (Königinhof on the Elbe) from 1253 to 1278 and after 1399
- JaroměřJaromerJaroměř is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 15 kilometers northeast of the district town of Hradec Králové. The town lies at the confluence of three rivers, notably the Mettau and the Elbe...
(Jermer) 1253–1278 - MělníkMelnik-Places:Bulgaria* Melnik, Bulgaria, a town in Bulgaria* Shiroka Melnishka Losa, a Bulgarian wine grape also known as MelnikCzech Republic* Mělník, a townUnited States* Melnik, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community...
(Melnik) 1253–1274 - Kutná HoraKutná HoraKutná Hora is a city in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region.-History:The town began in 1142 with the settlement of the first Cistercian Monastery in Bohemia, Kloster Sedlitz, brought from the Imperial immediate Cistercian Waldsassen Abbey...
(Kuttenberg) vor 1276 - Plzeň (Pilsen) 1295
- Nový BydžovNový BydžovNový Bydžov is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It is situated near Hradec Králové and Chlumec nad Cidlinou on the river Cidlina.-History:...
(Neubidschow) 1305–1325 - VodňanyVodnanyVodňany is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 7,000 inhabitants.Administrative parts of Vodňany are: Čavyně, Hvožďany, Křtětice, Pražák, Radčice, Újezd, Vodňanské Svobodné Hory, Vodňany I and Vodňany II....
(Wodnian) 1337 - Pražské Nové MěstoNew Town, PragueThe New Town is a quarter in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic. New Town is the youngest and largest of the five independent towns that today comprise the historic center of modern Prague...
(Prager Neustadt) 1348 - Karlovy VaryKarlovy VaryKarlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
(Karlsbad) 14. August 1370 - TrutnovTrutnovTrutnov is a city in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 31,239 and lies in the Krkonoše in the valley of the Úpa River....
(Trautenau) 1399 - SušiceSušiceSušice is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Otava River, some to the south of the regional capital of Pilsen.Sušice is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and with Commissioned Local Authority....
(Schüttenhofen) 1273? - Nový KnínNový KnínNový Knín is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
(Neuknin) 1437 - VelvaryVelvaryVelvary is a small town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague and has a population of 2,936...
(Welwarn) 1482 - KyjovKyjovKyjov is name of several locations:Czech Republic* Kyjov, a town in South Moravian Region ** Kyjov Hills, part of Carpathians** Kyjov Airport* Kyjov, a village in Vysočina Region...
(Gaya) 1548 - BerounBerounBeroun is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area. It is located 30 km southwest of Prague and has a population of 18,930 . It lies on the confluence of Berounka and Litavka rivers.Despite its small size, it is an...
(Beraun) - SlanýSlanýThe Royal town1 of Slaný is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located about 25 km northwest of Prague. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area....
(Schlan) - IvančiceIvanciceIvančice is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, 21 km south-west of Brno. The town has approximately 9,300 inhabitants. It lies on the confluence of Oslava , Jihlava and Rokytná rivers.-History:...
(Eibenschütz) - PohořelicePohorelicePohořelice may refer to:* Pohořelice * Pohořelice...
(Pohrlitz)