Nobility
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Prague 4, day 89: Viktorinova
Viktorinova was built in 1931. Viktorín Boček z Kunštátu was a nobleman; the earliest written mention we have of him is from 1417. When the Hussite Wars broke out two years later, he became one of the most important Hussite commanders. In 1420, he participated in the Battle of Vyšehrad (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/02/01/prague-4-day-21-na-vitezne-plani/), but left Prague shortly Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 88: Bohuslava ze Švamberka
Bohuslava ze Švamberka was built in 1938. Bohuslav (the sixth) was the son of Bohuslav (the fifth), who was the highest judge in Bohemia from 1390 to 1398. The Švamberks were a noble Catholic family. In 1417, Václav IV asked him to ensure security (ie to protect Catholics from Hussites) in Western Bohemia. Within a Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 37: U Pernštejnských
U Pernštejnských was built in 1938, but was nameless until 1947. The Pernštejns were a noble family originating in south-west Moravia. They reached the peak of their power in the 1500s, becoming one of the three richest families in the Czech Lands. However, by the mid-1600s, they were no more, as the last of the Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 13: Sezimova
Sezimova was built in 1900. Sezima z Vrtby was born into the noble Vrtba family in 1578. Starting his career in the service of the Rožmberks, another major noble family of the time, he served as hetman of the Vltava region on three occasions between 1606 and 1611. Sensing the way the tide was turning Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 1: Závišova
We’re off! Závišova was built in 1892, which is also approximately when I finished work on What’s In a Prague 1 Street Name. Záviš z Falkenštejna was born around 1250, as a member of the South Bohemian branch of the noble Vítkov family. He was first mentioned in writing in 1262, when King Přemysl Otakar Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 194: Melantrichova
Originally published on X on 7 April 2024. Jiřík Černý was born around 1511 in Rožďalovice, near Nymburk, but there are no written mentions of him until 1534, when he gained a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. At some point (the years after his graduation aren’t well documented either), he Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 174: Hlavsova
Originally posted on X on 17 March 2024. Jan Hlavsa was born at some point in the 1400s. I have no idea when, but I’m going to estimate that it wasn’t later than 1470, and not earlier than 1440, because we do know that he was a scribe of the land registers from 1497 to Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 155: Krocínova
Originally published on X on 26 February 2024. Václav Krocín was born in 1532, and grew up in Žatec, later moving to Prague, where his mother owned various properties. After finishing his studies there in 1560, he started working for the Old Town Municipality, eventually becoming mayor in 1584. He became known as Václav Krocín Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 73: Nosticova
Originally published on X on 20 November 2023. The Nostitz / Nostic family were first mentioned in 1280, originating in Upper Lusatia (now in Germany – take a look at https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/02/14/prague-2-day-28-luzicka/ for a primer). Around 1600, the family started to make a career at the Bohemian court; their conversion to Catholicism would be useful to Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 64: Dražického
Originally published on X on 9 November 2023. For info on the lack of street sign, read on. For info on Jan z Dražic, read https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-63-drazickeho-namesti/. When I went here to take pics, it wasn’t entirely clear where Dražického: The Square ends and Dražického: The Street begins, not helped by the fact that the latter Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 32: Šporkova
Originally published on X on 30 September 2023. Once upon a time, there was a Renaissance house in this street, owned by, amongst others, the House of Martinice, a noble family who claimed to have originated from the ancient Vršovci clan. A descendant of that family, Heinrich Clam-Martinic, would end up being one of the Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 161: Myslíkova
Originally published on X on 20 April 2023. Myslíkova was built around 1348, when the New Town was founded. Originally nameless, the street became known as Pod Zderazem, due to its location ‘under Zderaz’: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-159-na-zderaze/. Then, it became known as Pasířská until about 1700, because of the craftsmen (a pasíř is one who makes decorative Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 137: Salmovská
Originally published on X on 27 March 2023. Salmovská was built in the 15th century or earlier. Until the 15th century, the street was called Krupná, after which it changed slightly to Krupičná. There used to be a market here, and the names are presumably linked to what was on sale – krupice is semolina, Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 173: Náměstí Jiřího z Lobkovic
Originally published on Twitter on 13 October 2022. Náměstí Jiřího z Lobkovic was built in 1910. It underwent a pointless name change to Lobkovické náměstí (1940-5). It was then called Náměstí V.I. Čapajeva until 1990. Vasily Chapayev (1887-1919) was a Red Army commander. Soviet propaganda hailed him as a war hero; he also had bugger Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 118: Štítného
Originally published on Twitter on 19 August 2022. Štítného was built before 1875. Tomáš Štítný ze Štítného was born into the lower nobility at the Štítná fortress (now part of Žirovnice, Vysočina Region) around 1333. He moved to Prague to study at the Art Faculty of Charles University, where he became acquainted with reform preachers Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 108: Řehořova
Originally published on Twitter on 9 August 2022. Řehořova was built in 1897. Řehoř Krajčí (died 1474) was a knight, and possibly the nephew of Jan Rokycana (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-19-rokycanova/). In 1457, he founded the Unity of Brethren in Kunvald (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/26/prague-3-day-83-ceskobratrska/). The group’s popularity led to significant tension with Uncle, an Utraquist. From 1897 to 1940, Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 87: Tovačovského
Originally published on Twitter on 19 July 2022. Tovačovského was built in 1904. Jan Tovačovský z Cimburka st. (1400-ish to 1464) was a Moravian nobleman. Born a Catholic, he converted to the Kalisz faith and became a faithful follower of Jiří z Poděbrad. He took part in the battles of Ústí nad Labem (1426) and Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 85: Žerotínova
Originally published on Twitter on 17 July 2022. Žerotínova was built before 1875. Karel starší ze Žerotína / Karel the Elder from Žerotín (1564-1636) was born to an ancient Moravian noble family. He studied in Ivančice, Strasbourg and Basel. In 1594, he commanded the Moravian Cavalry in the Ottoman wars. In 1599, he was put Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 21: Černínova
Originally posted on Twitter on 14 May 2022. Černínova was built before 1875. Diviš Černín z Chudenic (1565-1621) was a member of the Czernin family, one of the most prominent in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Diviš presumably converted to Catholicism to further his career, and became a commander (hejtman) at Prague Castle, maintaining the role Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 