Vilem Slavata of Chlum
Encyclopedia
Vilém Slavata z Chlumu a Košumberka (ˈvɪlɛːm ˈslavata; ) (December 1, 1572 – January 19, 1652) was a Czech
nobleman from old Bohemia
n family. As viceregent (místodržící) of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg
(from 1617) he became famous as co-victim, along with Jaroslav Borzita of Martinice, of the 1618 Defenestration of Prague
.
near Kutná Hora
. His father Adam had been an administrator of Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg
, who in 1583 had taken up his residence at Prague Castle
and had guaranteed freedom of religion
to the Protestant
Bohemian estates by his Letter of Majesty (Rudolfův Majestát) issued in 1609. Though he was raised in the spirit of the Unity of the Brethren
, Slavata converted to Catholicism
in 1597 and became a fierce advocate of the older faith.
Like his father he took service with Rudolf II who appointed him burgrave
at Karlštejn
. Under Rudolf's successor Matthias
he became chamberlain
of the Crown of Bohemia. Vilém supported the coronation of the devout Catholic Ferdinand of Inner Austria
as Bohemian king against the resistance of the Protestant estates. In return Ferdinand vested him with the office of his representative at Prague, where he had to face the violent uprising of the nobles led by Jindřich Matyáš Thurn
on May 23, 1618. Together with J. Bořita of Martinice he was thrown out of a window of the castle by an enraged multitude and, alive but severely injured, was arrested by the insurgents.
One year later, he managed to escape to Saxony
. However, Elector John George I
, anxious for his neutral position, forced him to retire to Passau
. After Ferdinand's victory at the Battle of the White Mountain in 1621, Slavata returned to Bohemia. A leading figure in restoring Catholicism, he received the title of a Reichsgraf
("Count of the Empire
") and in 1628 was appointed chancellor of Bohemia. He died at Jindřichův Hradec
.
. His great annals (written between 1637–1651) are focused especially on the events of the years 1608–1619 on the territory of the Czech lands
.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
nobleman from old 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...
n family. As viceregent (místodržící) of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
(from 1617) he became famous as co-victim, along with Jaroslav Borzita of Martinice, of the 1618 Defenestration of Prague
Defenestrations of Prague
The Defenestrations of Prague were two incidents in the history of Bohemia. The first occurred in 1419 and the second in 1618, although the term "Defenestration of Prague" more commonly refers to the latter incident. Both helped to trigger prolonged conflict within Bohemia and beyond...
.
Life
Vilém was born at his family's estates in ČestínČestín
Čestín is a village and municipality in Kutná Hora District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. - Parts of the village :* Čestín* Čenovice* Čentice* Kamenná Lhota* Kasanice* Kněž* Milotice* Morány* Polipsy-References:...
near Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora
Kutná 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...
. His father Adam had been an administrator of Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
, who in 1583 had taken up his residence at 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...
and had guaranteed freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
to the Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Bohemian estates by his Letter of Majesty (Rudolfův Majestát) issued in 1609. Though he was raised in the spirit of the Unity of the Brethren
Unity of the Brethren
The Unity of the Brethren is a Christian denomination whose roots are in the pre-reformation work of priest and philosopher Jan Hus, who was martyred in 1415.-History in Bohemia:...
, Slavata converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in 1597 and became a fierce advocate of the older faith.
Like his father he took service with Rudolf II who appointed him burgrave
Burgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
at Karlštejn
Karlštejn
Karlštejn Castle is a large Gothic castle founded 1348 AD by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor-elect and King of Bohemia. The castle served as a place for safekeeping the Imperial Regalia as well as the Bohemian/Czech coronation jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures...
. Under Rudolf's successor Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
he became chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
of the Crown of Bohemia. Vilém supported the coronation of the devout Catholic Ferdinand of Inner Austria
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
as Bohemian king against the resistance of the Protestant estates. In return Ferdinand vested him with the office of his representative at Prague, where he had to face the violent uprising of the nobles led by Jindřich Matyáš Thurn
Jindrich Matyas Thurn
Jindřich Matyáš Thurn-Valsassina , was a leading Bohemian nobleman, one of leaders against Ferdinand II of Bohemia and in events that led to the Thirty Years War, and in the end a...
on May 23, 1618. Together with J. Bořita of Martinice he was thrown out of a window of the castle by an enraged multitude and, alive but severely injured, was arrested by the insurgents.
One year later, he managed to escape to Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. However, Elector John George I
John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, anxious for his neutral position, forced him to retire to Passau
Passau
Passau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt or "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north....
. After Ferdinand's victory at the Battle of the White Mountain in 1621, Slavata returned to Bohemia. A leading figure in restoring Catholicism, he received the title of a Reichsgraf
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
("Count of the Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
") and in 1628 was appointed chancellor of Bohemia. He died at Jindřichův Hradec
Jindrichuv Hradec
Jindřichův Hradec is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 22,700 inhabitants.- History :The first written mention of the town is in 1220. Before that, it was probably a Slavic settlement. At the end of the 12th century more people arrived...
.
Work
Vilém Slavata is also known as writer of an important monumental (14 large-scale books) reminiscence named Historické spisování ("Historical writings") in which he comprehensively describes the causes and initiation of the Bohemian Revolt and the first phase of the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. His great annals (written between 1637–1651) are focused especially on the events of the years 1608–1619 on the territory of the Czech lands
Czech lands
Czech lands is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. Today, those three historic provinces compose the Czech Republic. The Czech lands had been settled by the Celts , then later by various Germanic tribes until the beginning of 7th...
.