What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 24 September 2022.

Jagellonská was built in 1896.

Continuing (and ending) this trilogy of streets, the Jagiellonian dynasty was founded by Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in 1386.

In their time, they ruled Poland, Lithuania, Hungary and Bohemia.

The dynasty is known as the Jagiellonowie, the Jogailaičiai, the Jagelló and the Jagellonci in the respective languages.

They lasted longest in Poland (186 years), compared to 40 years (over two stints) in Hungary and 55 years in Bohemia.

So here goes with both the Jagiellonian kings of Bohemia. The first reign is far too eventful to fit into one tweet, but oh well.

Vladislav Jagellonský (1471-1516): clashed with Pope and Hungarian claimant to throne, Matthias Corvinus. Liked peace and consensus, which made him look weak because nobody else did. Reign included much Hussite-vs-Catholic and towns-vs-nobility squabbling.

Ludvík Jagellonský (1506-26): mainly lived in Hungary (like dad). Visited Bohemia once, cf that expat acquaintance we all have who claims to live here but has been once since 2020 to ‘sort things out’.

Died in Battle of Mohács against Ottomans in 1526. Aged 20. Childless.

Enter the Habsburgs. Who don’t have a street named after them here, despite, or perhaps because of the fact that these three were built during the reign (they presumably weren’t ready to be historical figures or a past dynasty yet).

In Poland, the Uniwersytet Jagielloński (UJ) in Kraków is Poland’s oldest and most prestigious university, and Jagiellonia Białystok  is a premier league football team.