What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 23 September 2022.

Lucemburská was built in 1896.

The Lucemburkové, or the House of Luxembourg, or D’Lëtzebuerger Haus if you really want to be like that about it, ruled as Kings of Germany, Holy Roman Emperors, and Kings of Bohemia (and Hungary, and Croatia).

Luckily, it’s a much shorter list than yesterday.

Jan Lucemburský / John the Blind / Jang de Blannen (1310-46): clashed with the nobles, to their advantage, and got bored of Bohemia and its intrigues as a result. Died in battle at Crécy, aged 50 and already blind for a decade.

Karel IV (1346-78): son of Jan. Smart. Important. Got the nobles on side. Got Prague bishopric elevated to archbishopric. Became Holy Roman Emperor. Founded Prague Old Town. Karlštejn / Karlovy Vary / Charles Bridge / Charles University / many Charles Squares.

Václav IV (1378-1419): son of Karel, who spoiled him. Fence-sitter in papal schism. Dethroned as German king in 1400. Squabbled with the nobility, his brothers, and the chancellor. Probable alcoholic. Apparently died of shock at Hussites (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-23-jana-zelivskeho/).

Zikmund Lucemburský (1419-37): except all the Hussite wars and stuff meant he couldn’t really rule until 1436. And had to reluctantly bow to Hussite demands (but got a few mutineers killed too).

Left no sons. End of the line.