Oldřich II of Rosenberg

Oldřich II of Rosenberg (Czech: Oldřich II. z Rožmberka^ⓘ; 13 January 1403 – 28 April 1462) was an important Bohemian nobleman who, after the Battle of Lipany, became a recognized leader of the Catholic lords in Bohemia.

Oldřich II of Rosenberg
Governor of the House of Rosenberg
19th century portrait of Oldřich II by Charles Louis Philippot
Coat of arms
Native name	Oldřich II. z Rožmberka
Born	13 January 1403
Died	28 April 1462 Český Krumlov
Buried	Vyšší Brod Monastery
Noble family	Rosenberg family
Wife	Kateřina of Vartemberk
Issue	Henry IV of Rosenberg [cs] Jošt II of Rosenberg John II of Rosenberg Anežka of Rosenberg [cs] Perchta of Rosenberg [cs] Lidmila of Rosenberg [cs]
Father	Henry III of Rosenberg
Mother	Eliška of Kravaře

Biography

Oldřich II increased the power of the Rosenberg family after taking advantage of the weakening royal power during the Hussite wars. Oldřich was initially sympathetic for the Hussite movement, a position influenced by his guardian Čeněk of Wartenberg. However, after the Hussites burned down the town of Sezimovo Ústí in 1420 and founded Tábor on the very northern border of the Rosenberg State [cs], Oldřich became a leading ally of Emperor Sigismund and acted as a negotiator and diplomat. Sigismund appointed him governor of the Bechyně region and Prácheňsko.^[1]

Oldřich II was defeated in the Battle of Tábor and in the Battle of Panský Bor [cs] near modern-day Malý Bor, and participated in the Battle of Vyšehrad in 1420. He found later military success in the Battle of Lipany in 1434 and saw to the destruction of the remaining Hussite forces at the Battle of Křeč in 1435.^[1]

During the 15th century, the Rosenberg State dominated almost the entire area of southern Bohemia. In addition to property gains, Oldřich II forged documents stating the Rosenberg family was to receive special privileges from the monarchy. He counterfeited wax seals and amended original documents. A set of documents, allegedly issued by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor in 1360, claimed the indivisibility of the Rosenberg State and the establishment of the title of Governor of the House of Rosenberg. These claims were fully legalized in 1493 after approval by the Bohemian Diet and entry in the land records. They were observed until the extinction of the Rosenberg family on November 6, 1611.^[1]

Oldřich II also falsified a legend about the origin of the Rosenbergs from the ancient Roman family Ursini. Together with the Italian Orsini family, they reached an agreement confirming their fictional common origin.^[1]

Oldřich II was likely a member of the Order of the Dragon.^[2] He was later depicted in the 1956 film Against All and played by Václav Špidla [cs].^[3]

References

1. Rynešová, Blažena; Pelikán, Josef (1929). Listář a listinář Oldřicha z Rožmberka (1418–1462) (in Czech). Prague: Ministerstvo školství a národní osvěty.
2. Ernée, Michal (2008). Gotické kamnové kachle z hradu a zámku v Českém Krumlově (in Czech). České Budějovice: Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-80-86260-85-3.
3. Lopour, Jaroslav. "Václav Špidla" (in Czech). ČSFD. Retrieved 8 April 2021.

Further reading

• Falza a podvody české historie (in Czech) (1st ed.). Prague: Akropolis. 2001. ISBN 80-7304-010-7.
• Kubíková, Anna (2004). Oldřich II. z Rožmberka (in Czech) (1st ed.). České Budějovice: Veduta. ISBN 80-86829-00-6.
• Kubíková, Anna (2005). Rožmberské kroniky: krátký a summovní výtah od Václava Březana (in Czech) (1st ed.). České Budějovice: Bohumír Němec – Veduta. ISBN 80-86829-10-3.
• Šimůnek, Robert (2011). Páni z Rožmberka 1250–1520: Jižní Čechy ve středověku (in Czech) (1st ed.). České Budějovice: Veduta. ISBN 978-80-86829-70-8.
• Němec, Bohumír (2001). Rožmberkové – životopisná encyklopedie panského rodu (in Czech) (1st ed.). České Budějovice: Veduta. ISBN 80-903040-0-1.