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Ottokar II of Bohemia
Photo: Otakarus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons18

Ottokar II of Bohemia

King of Bohemia from 1253 to 1278

Ottokar II (Czech: Přemysl Otakar II.; c. 1233, in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his death in 1278. He also held the titles of Margrave of Moravia from 1247, Duke of Austria from 1251, and Duke of Styria from 1260, as well as Duke of Carinthia and landgrave of Carniola from 1269.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Ottokar II of Bohemia (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born 1233, died Sep 2, 1278.1

About

With Ottokar's rule, the Přemyslids reached the peak of their power in the Holy Roman Empire. His expectations of the imperial crown, however, were never fulfilled.

Ottokar was the second son of King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (reigned 1230–1253). Through his mother, Kunigunde, daughter of Philip of Swabia, he was related to the Holy Roman Emperors of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, which became extinct in the male line upon the execution of King Conradin of Sicily in 1268.

Named after his grandfather King Přemysl Ottokar I, he was originally educated for the role of an ecclesiastical administrator, while his elder brother Vladislaus was designated heir of the Bohemian kingdom. He was possibly educated by the Bohemian chancellor Philip of Spanheim, who would later become a rival for the rule of the Duchy of Carinthia.

From Wikipedia’s article on Ottokar II of Bohemia, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Career

Occupation: monarch.12

  • 1253 to 1278King of Bohemia11
  • Date not recordedFounded Špilberk Castle3
  • Date not recordedFounded Bezděz Castle4
  • Date not recordedFounded České Budějovice5
  • Date not recordedFounded Dominican Monastery6
  • Date not recordedFounded Zlatá koruna Monastery7
  • Date not recordedFounded Poděbrady Castle8
  • Date not recordedFounded Bechyně Castle9
  • Date not recordedFounded Königsberg Castle10
  • Date not recordedPrince-Elector11

Personal life

  • Born1233, Městec Králové13
  • DiedSep 2, 1278, Dürnkrut14
  • CitizenshipKingdom of Bohemia15
  • SpousesAgnes of Kuenring16; Margaret of Austria, Queen of Bohemia married 125216; Kunigunda of Halych married 126116

On 11 February 1252, Přemysl Ottokar II married Margaret of Austria. Margaret was 26 years older than he, and the couple's childless marriage ended with an annulment. On 25 October 1261, Ottokar married Kunigunda of Slavonia. They had six children:

Kunigunde (January 1265 – 27 November 1321), married Boleslaus II of Masovia

Agnes of Bohemia, Duchess of Austria (5 September 1269 – 17 May 1296), married Rudolf II, Duke of Austria

Wenceslaus II (17 September 1271 – 21 June 1305)

Margaret (died in childhood)

Two unnamed sons (died in childhood)

Ottokar also had two extramarital sons and daughters. The most important was his firstborn, Nicholas. He was never accepted as heir apparent to the Bohemian crown by the sitting pope, but was given the Duchy of Opava as fief in 1269. Other illegitimate children include John, provost of Vyšehrad Chapter.

From Wikipedia’s article on Ottokar II of Bohemia (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Sources

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