Prague

During the Renaissance, Prague was the capital of the kingdom of BOHEMIA and a leading city of the Holy Roman Empire*. At various times, the city served as an imperial power base, a stronghold for certain religious groups, and a center of intellectual and cultural activity.

Early Renaissance. The city of Prague rose to prominence in the middle of the 1300s. It engaged in an extensive building program. In 1344, the pope raised the diocese* of Prague from a bishopric to an archbishopric. Four years later, the University of Prague, the first university in central Europe, was founded.

In the early 1400s, a religious movement inspired by the teaching of reformer Jan Hus developed in Prague. In 1419 supporters of the movement, known as Hussites, led an uprising and seized control of the city. The rebels of Prague defied the authority of the emperor, the nobles, and the Roman Catholic Church. By 1421 they controlled most of Bohemia, but they fell from power in 1434. This period of turmoil took a toll on the city's economy.

Rise to Prominence. In the mid- to late 1400s, Prague gradually regained economic and political power. Under kings George Podebrady (ruled 1458–1471) and Vladislav II (ruled 1471–1516), foreign trade improved and various public buildings went through major renovations. This process continued during the reign of FERDINAND I (ruled 1526–1564), who made the city a powerful financial and political center. Ferdinand established a glittering royal residence in Prague, adding a summer palace and splendid gardens to the castle.

Under RUDOLF II (ruled 1575–1612), Prague reached a peak of cultural development. Both the court and the university attracted writers and scientists from throughout the empire. Rudolf took a serious interest in the arts, amassing one of the largest art collections in Europe. He hired Italian masons and artisans* to transform Prague Castle into a magnificent Renaissance palace. Following his example, local nobles also supported the arts and commissioned architects to build stately homes.

Throughout the 1500s, religious conflicts continued to surface around Prague. The city became a center for the Counter-Reformation*, which created opposition from Protestants. In 1618 a group of Protestant noblemen threw two ministers of the Catholic king out of a window in Prague Castle. This event helped spark the THIRTY YEARS' WAR (1618–1648), a series of battles fought across much of central Europe. During the war, invading armies attacked Prague repeatedly, looting many of its treasures. The city did not fully recover until the end of the 1600s.