Let me introduce the following chonological list of rulers, princes, kings and emperors ruling in the past in the territory of the contemporary state of Czechs, Moravians, Silesians and other nationalities and nationals.
The sovereign had always acted as the uniting and centralising element (in a good sense), around whom was formed the society in the relevant territory. He was sometimes good, sometimes worse master of his people, but his significance and influence not only in the ruled territory, but also outwardly represented the main condition in the status and growth of the territory.
Primacy in the foundation of the first Christian state will always belong to Mojmir dynasty and Great Moravia. But the Premyslids were those who since the beginning used the sharpest elbows in the relationship to the remaining tribal princes in the Czech territory.
The period of Luxemburg dynasty can be hardly characterized in this exceedingly brief form. However the reign of Charles IV of Luxemburg was the best, the Czech territory faced during the late Middle Ages (maybe not only in the Middle Ages concerning the present situation).
The other ruling dynasties (Jagellon, Habsburgs, Habsburg-Lontringen) cannot be so impiously generalized. However for every dynasty, every monarch, were the titles of Czech king, margrave of Moravia and duke of Silesia of enourmous significance, may for the fact that the title of Czech king was associated with the post of elector of the Holy Roman emperor.
Let me cite the words of Heinrich Mann from his book „The youth of king Henry IV of Navaria“ (Translated by Jaroslava Vobrubová-Koutecká, published by Odeon Prague 1973) that could purvey a lot even to contemporary presidents.: ….. „ Mornay wanted Henry to keep only those from his counsellors who are virtuous….. and Henry himself is to be the an example to his house, not only to his house but also to the kingdom of Navaria and not only the kingdom…. Sovreign should remember to act gravely, even pretentiously, but primarily cannot give a reason to gossips. Even his own conscience must not suffice.“
Tomáš Kordac
Samo Samo's empire in the region of former Bohemia, Moravia including a part of Slovakia and probably also a part of Bavaria. It was formed as an organized tribal community of Slaves in the years of 624- 659.
Mojmir I founder of the Mojmir dynasty and the realm so called the Great Moravian empire which is not historically precise, because the sources only mention Moravia and Moravians. After his death (he reigned in the years of 830-846) his nephew became a ruler.
Rostislaw first protected by the East Frankish Empire but later changed his policy and tried to focus on the Byzantine empire and it's culture. He reigned in the years of 846 - 870. Byzantine emperor Michael III was asked to
send priests who would use the Slavonic language. In 863 arrived to Moravia two missionaries, brothers Constantin and Methodius. They knew the language of southern Slaves and invent a new alphabet called hlaholice (Cyrillic script). They translated the most important liturgical texts
Swatopluk 870 - 894 nephew of Rostislaw. Mighty ruler whose sovereignty was respected not only in Moravia and Nitra but also in Bohemia, Pannonia, Lusatania and Silesia. Slavonic liturgy was accepted by the Pope of Rome. Methodius was appointed Archbishop of Pannonia and Great Moravia. After Svatopluk's death, his son Mojmir II was enthroned.
Mojmir II 894 - 907 during his reign Bohemia and Pannonia became independent. The Great Moravia completely ceased to exist in 907 due to the permanent attacks of the Magyar mercenaries. Magyars pulled out to the Danube after their victory. The roots of the Czech State are based on the heritage of the Great Moravian Empire.
Borivoy I 870 - 889 the first historically recorded member of the Premyslid dynasty. He was born circa 852. First mentioned in 872 in the wars with Franks. He married Ludmila daughter of Slavibor, prince of the Slavic Serbs. (Cosmas in his Chronicles states that she was Psiovanic - Psiovanics were a tribe from the area around the town Melnik). After the year 880 they both became Christians. Were christened by the Moravian Archbishop Method. In 885 they move the seat of the Czech princes from Levy Hradec to the Prague fort.
Spytihnev I 894 - 915 son of Borivoj I was underaged in the time of his father's death and the throne was undertaken by prince Svatopluk of Moravia. After his death Spytihnev tried to gain the independence on Moravia and therefore he became a vassal to the East Frankish sovereign Arnuf in 895 in Riezno, Bavaria.
Wratislaw I brother of Spytihnew (the second son of Borivoj) became a sovrereign in 915. He established a church of st. George in the area of Prague fort. He died on 13.2. 921 after six years of reign. The power was split between Drahomira, the widow of Wratislaw I and Ludmila the mother of Wratislaw and widow of Brorivoj I. The custodianship over the underaged sons of Wratislaw - Wenceslas and Boleslaw gained their grandmother Ludmila. On 15.9. 921 was sixty-one-year old Ludmila assasinated by the murderers of Drahomíra who became a regent in charge of her two sons.
Wenceslas born circa 907 - 28.9. 985 became adult after 922. He was strictly religious but remained strong and decisive . To calm the situation he escorted his mother-murderer from Prague to Budec where she was imprisoned. He he pledged to payments (tax of peace) to Saxon king Henry I the Birder, who held the significant power in the politics of the adjoining German territories and therefore he managed peace for Bohemia. He was assasinted by his younger brother Boleslaw. In the following centruries was the role of Wenceslas glamorized, he was worshipped and canonized. He became a symbol and patron of the Czech state, symbol of "everlasting" and ideal sovereign.
Boleslaw I (born circa 910-+972) he killed his brother because of his thirst for power. This led to the war with Saxony which lasted 14 years. His daughter Doubrava married Mesek from the house of Piast (first recorded Polish sovereign), his second daughter Mlada established in the second part of 10th century, near the church of st. George, first monastery in Bohemian territory, dedicated to st. Benedict.
Boleslaw II later called the Pious ruled in the years of 972 - 999 he was the son of Boleslaw I and in 973 started the negotiations leading to the establishment of the first bishoperic in Prague. The church self-administration became one of the sovereignity symbols of the Bohemian territory however during the 14th century was the bishoperic subordinate to the arch-bishoperic in Mohuc.
During his reign in September 995 a very inconsistned affair happened - the slaugher of the Slawnik house - the duke lineage seated in Libice nad Cidlinou and controlling the major part of Bohemia. First this situation led to reunion of the Bohemia under the reign of the Premyslid house, on the other hand it was a subdue of a mighty dynasty, who rebelled against the merciless Premyslids. The historical science cannot take "if" into consideration but who knows - if the Slawniks won, woudn't their reign be better and histroricaly more acceptable?
Boleslaw III the Red-haired. Ruled in the years of 999-1002. He couldn't managage the hold the territiories attached by his father Boleslaw II and becouse of the fear from loosing the throne he spayed his bother Jaromir (to disable him from having an ansestor), his second brother Oldrich luckily evaded from the assacination. Due the his politics arose a rebillion led by the Vrsowic house - the last tribal community who could endanger the Premyslids. Boleslaw III ran away from the country.
Wladiwoy He reigned in 1002-1003. Probably a member of Premyslid hous, but he could also come from Poland. He was enthroned by the Polish king Boleslaw the Brave. He is said to be an incompetent drunk, to whom was the Bohemia given as a German fief from the Roman Emperor Henry II, it led to the submission to the German Emperor's supremacy which lasted for centuries.
Jaromir first he ruled in 1003. Boleslaw III the Red-haired was again enthroned by the Polish king Boleslaw the Brave and slaughtered the Vrsovics. Jaromir was captured by Boleslaw the Brave, blinded and imprisoned in one of his castles in Poland.
Boleslaw the Brave ruled in 1003 - 1004 he was Polish from the Piast House related to the Premyslids - his mother was a Premyslid Doubrava. At his service died the last member of the Slawnik house - Sobebor.
Jaromir again became a duke till 1012 when he was owerthroned and blinded by his brother Udalrich.
Udalrich reigned in 1012-1033, married Bozena - low born wife and they had a son Bretislaw.
Jaromir ruled for the third time 1033-1034 but he was blind and spayed and he resigned for the benefit of Udalrich's son Bretislaw. He was later assasinated by the Vrsovics as a revenge on their tribe.
Bretislaw I ruled in 1034 - 1005 his status was complicated by his illegitimate origin. He introduced the principle of seniority for the Bohemian succession. When he conquered Polish town Hniezdno he declared by the grave of Slavnik Wojtech so called "Bretislaws edict" - the first recorded juridical rule in Bohemia and brought Wojtech's relics back. He kidnapped his wife Judith of Bavaria from the monastery in Schweinfurt. They had five sons.
Spytihnev II as the oldest son according to his father's principle of seniority ruled in 1055 - 1061, ordered the ejection of the Germans from Bohemia which also afflicted his mother Judith from Schweinfurt.
Wratislaw II reigned in 1064 - 1092, in 1085 was granted, in Mohuc from the Roman Emperor Henry IV, the first inheritable royal title. He was crowned in the Prague castle on 15.6. 1086. He also founded a bishoperic in Olomouc.
Conrad I Otto ruled in 1092 ( eight months)
Bretislaw II was on the Bohemian throne for 8 years from 1092 to 1100 he consistently christianed the country and suppressed the Slavic liturgy, whose last remains were preserved in the Benedict monastery in Sazava.
Boriwoj II younger brother of Bretislaw II, ruled in 1101 - 1107 in the contradiction with the principle of seniority, the oldest member of the family was the Premyslid Udalrich from Brno.
Swatopluk son of the Premyslid Ota from Olomouc reigned in Bohemia in 1107 - 1109, in 1108 he slaughered the last ansestors of Vrsovic tribe in Bohemia.
Wladislaw I ruled in 1109 - 1117 and for the first time as the Bohemian sovereing was granted the honorary title of Imperial Arch Cup-Bearer.
Boriwoy II ruled again in 1117 - 1120
Wladislaw I ruled again in 1120 - 1125
Sobieslaw I the youngest son of Wratislaw II, reigned in 1125 - 1140.
forceful fighter and skilled diplomat. He consecrated a rotunda of St. George on the Rip mountain after his victory against the Roman soldiers in 1126.
Wladislaw II ruled in 1140 - 1172 he was son of Wladislaw I. In 1158 he again granted the inheritable royal due to a successful crusade of the Bohemian nobels against Milan in Italy. The merits of the Bohemian soldiers were acknowled by the erbic signs given to the mebers of the Bohemian nobility.
Frederick son of Wladislaw II. First he ruled shortly in 1172 - 1173 - wasn't accepted by the Roman emperor Barbadossa.
Sobieslaw II known as "rustic king" ruled in 1173 - 1178, he did not trust the nobels and surrounded himself by the low-born people.
Frederick he was on the Bohemian throne again in 1178 (after five years) and remained there until 1189. He gave to Condrad the title the Margrave of Moravia (Roman duke) - subserviant directly to the Roman Emperor and independend on the "Prague Duke Table".
Condrad II Otto Premyslid who reigned in 1189 - 1191. He established " Conrad's statutes" declaring peacible and heritable possesion of the nobel property.
Wenceslas the youngest son of Sobieslaw I and brother of Sobieslaw II ruled in 1191 - 1192
Przemysl Ottokar I. son of Wladislaw II first reigned in 1192 - 1193 and later once more.
Henry Bretislav, reg. so far the bishop of Prague ruled in 1193 - 1197 - he told on Przemysl Ottokar I. by the Roman emperor and was given Bohemia as a fief. He joined the clerical and secular power.
Vladislav Henry ruled in 1197 due to nobels, he asked the Prague bishop for the vow of faith a sign of his submission to the secular power.
Przemysl Ottokar I. was again and definitely confirmed on the throne. During his reign from 1197 to 1230 in 1198 he gained the first hereditary title of the king of the Czech territory (Golden Bull of Sicily). He canceled the order of seniority and established primogeniture – succession of the first born son.
Wenceslas I reigned in the years 1230-1253 during his reign he raised the country economically and culturally, colonization of vast regions.
Przemysl Ottokar II. reigned in the years 1253 – 1278, rebelious son of his father. Later called „iron and golden king“. His reign meant huge cultural and territorial expansion of the Czech state.
Wenceslas I reigned in the years 1230-1253 during his reign he raised the country economically and culturally and cononized vast regions.
Wenceslas II ruled in the years 1278 – 1253, in 1300 he became a king of Poland.
Wenceslas III ruled in 1305 – 1306 the last male member of the Premyslid dynasty on the throne.
Henry of Corutan he ruled from Sempteber 1306 to the beginning of October 1306 his wife became Anna the Premyslyd (Sister of Elis the Premyslid)
Rudolf I of Habsburg he reigned from 16th October to 3rd December 1307. He married the widow of Wenceslas II Polish Piast Elis Elizabeth. Their son was Albrecht of Habsburg.
Henry of Corutan ruled from 15th August 1307 to July 1310.
John of Luxemburg ruled in 1310 – 1346. His wife was Elis the Premyslid and they gave birth to Charles IV. John of Luxemburg died on 26th August 1346 in the battle of Kresczak.
Chales IV of Luxemburg ruled in the years 1346 – 1378 and was the 12th Czech King. He is also called the father of the country. His reign was the most famous period at all in the history of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.
Wenceslas IV. of Luxemurg the 13th Czech king ruled in the years 1378 – 1419. He was the son of Charles IV and his third wife Ann Svidnicka.
Zikmund of Luxemburg son of Charles IV and his last wife Elis Pomoranska, who reigned from August 1436 to 9th December 1437. In 1420 he crowned himself a king, but in 1421 was uncrowned at Caslav assembly . As a heir of the throne he pushed forward his only daughter (from the second marriage) Elizabeth of Luxemburg. She married Albrecht II of Austria.
Albrecht II of Austria ruled from June 1438 to October 1439. He was named by Zikmund of Luxemburg as his heir. Albrecht died on 22nd February 1440.
In 1439 – 1453 was the Czech kingdom without the king. George of Podebrady was electected as the „govenor of the country“ for the timebeing of two years.
Ladislav the Posthumous ruled from 28th October to 23rd of November 1457. He was nicknamed king Bear. He confirmed Henry of Podebrady in the position of the govenor of the country. He was the 15th Czech king. He died probably of leukaemia.
George of Podebrady ruled from 2nd March 1458 to 22nd March 1271. He disowned all dynastic claimed for his descendants.
Wladislav II of Jagellon administration of Czech territory pertained under his reign from 27th May 1471 to 13th March 1576. He was the 17th Czech king and the oldest son of the Polish ruler Kazimir and his wife Elizabeth of Austria. He was inaugurated when he was fifteen years old. With his first wife Anna de Foix de Candal they had the son Ludwig and daughter Elizabeth (Ann), who later married Ferdinand I of Habsburg.
Ludwig of Jagellon reigned in the years 1516 – 1526. He married Marie Habsburg (1505 – 1558). He died in the battle of Mohuc.
Ferdinand I. of Habsburg was elected by the comitee of 24 electors on 23rd October 1526. He reigned in the years 1526 – 1564. He promised to reign from Prague. In 1531 he became the Roman king. In 1564 he wringed on the Pope the comunion in both kinds ( sub utraque specie) in spite of the Peace of Augspurg from 1505. Cuius regio, eius religio.
Maxmilian II of Habsburg son of Ferdinand I. Habsburg, ruling in the years 1564 – 1576. He became the Roman emperor. He leaned to Lutherans.
Rudolf II. of Habsburg ruled in years 1576 – 1611. He was the son of Maxmilian II. Habsburg. In 1583 he moved his seat from Vienna to Prague. In 1609 he published the Majesty (the Code of records of the country) about the religious freedom. For the protection of non-catholic religion was establihed the board of 30 defendors (10 nobels, 10 burghers, 10 knights). It was a very signigicant period in the history of the Czech state culturaly and also politicaly.
Matyas of Habsburg reigned in 1611 – 1619. Brother of Rudolf II. During his reign came to a head the matters of faith.
Frederic of Falc in the Czech territory he reigned in the years 1619 – 1620. Nicknamed the autumn king. Brother in law of the English king Jacob. Promised and prospective support of disaffected Czech nobles was not fulfilled.
Ferdinand II of Habsburg reigned in 1620 – 1637. He initiated the hereditory throne of Habsburgs. During his reign was the execution of 27 Czech nobels.
Ferdinand III. of Habsburg ruled in 1637 – 1657.
Leopold I. of Habsburg reigned in 1657 – 1705. He had the significant sign of Habsburg dynasty – slack upper lip. In 1700 the Spanish brach of the Habsburg dynasty died out.
Joseph I. of Habsburg reigned in 1705 – 1711
Charles IV. Habsburg ruled in the years 1711 – 1740. In 1713 – Pragmatic Sanction.
Marie Therese of Habsburg ruled in the years 1740 – 1780 (crowned as a Czech Queen on 12th May 1743. Her husband became Stephan of Lotringen together they had two sons Joseph II. and Leopold II.
Joseph II. of Habsburg -Lotringen ruled in years 1780 – 1790 (he issued the Patent of Toleration – far reaching significance – migration of citizens.)
Leopold II. of Habsburg – Lotringen ruled in years 1790 – 1792.
Franz I. reigned in 1720 – 1835. Son of Leopold II. on 19th August he accepted the title of heritable emperor of Rome.
Ferdinand V . reigned in the years 1835 – 1848. He was called “Gracious“ (he was half-witted). His wife was Marie Ann Savoy. He resigned to the advantage of his nephew. He was the last Czech king. Crowned on 7th September 1836.
Franz Joseph II. reigned in 1848 – 1916.
Charles I. Reigned in the years 1916 – 1918. His wife became Zita Bourbon-Parma.