The
Kingdom of Bohemia (; ; ) was a country located in the region of
Bohemia in
Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day
Czech Republic. The Kingdom was part of the
Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the
Austrian Empire, and subsequently the
Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867. Following the defeat of the
Central Powers in
World War I, both Kingdom and Empire were dissolved and Bohemia became part of the newly formed
Czechoslovak Republic.
History
Although some former rulers of Bohemia had enjoyed a non-hereditary royal title during the 11th and 12th century (
Vratislaus II,
Vladislaus II), the kingdom was formally established in 1198 by
Ottokar I, who had his regality acknowledged by
Philip of Swabia, elected
King of the Romans, in turn for his support against the rival Emperor
Otto IV. In 1204 Ottokar's royal dignity was accepted by Otto IV himself as well as by
Pope Innocent III and afterwards definitely confirmed by the
Golden Bull of Sicily issued by Emperor
Frederick II in 1212, promoting the Duchy of Bohemia to the Kingdom status. Incorporated into the
Habsburg Monarchy from 1526, it was dissolved in 1918 with the fall of Austria–Hungary, when the last Bohemian king,
Charles I of Austria, was forced out of power without abdicating. The national assembly at
Prague then deposed the
Habsburg dynasty and proclaimed the Czechoslovak Republic.
Bohemia proper (
Čechy) with the
County of Kladsko...
Read More