Medieval connection between Bohemia and France

I would like to tell you a story from the ancient history of medieval Europe. The story of a prince, a king and an emperor who connected the European countries and surpassed the European Union by seven centuries. And who historically connected the Czech republic and France in many ways.

His name is Charles IV. He was born in Prague in 1316. He was the king of Bohemia, Roman-German, Italian (Lombard), the last king of Burgundy (Arelat) and Count of Luxembourg. His father was from Luxembourg and his mother from Bohemia. He became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was highly educated and intelligent, speaking five languages fluently (French, German, Czech, Latin and Italian).

As king of Bohemia, he is known for founding the university in Prague that bears his name, building the new city of Prague, the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River in Prague and Karl?tejn Castle. He started the construction of the St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.

Like his father, he spent his childhood studying in France at the court of his uncle Charles IV the Fair. And this is where his Franco-Czech traces begin. After his arrival in Paris, he lived in the residence of his father John of Luxembourg, called H?tel de Bohême, which was located on the site of the present-day Commercial Exchange and the Ruggieri (Medici) Column in the Les Halles district. There was also a Bohemian gate open within the walls of Paris, facilitating the connection of the "Palais de Bohême" with the Louvre outside the walls.

Charles IV lived in the Palais de Justice, which was the royal residence in the Middle Ages. It was there, in the Sainte-Chapelle, that he was engaged and married to the French king's cousin, Blanche of Valois. He spent a lot of time living and studying at the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was loaned to him by the king of France, who took care of him as his own son. Charles also studied at the University of Paris.

His father could only see out of one eye, and he got it ill. Charles IV accompanied him to Montpellier, in the south of France, in 1340, where he was treated by the physicians of the famous university of the city.

France was invaded by King Edward III of England and King Philip VI of France asked his allies and friends for help. John and Charles immediately responded to their ally and came to his aid. The decisive battle was the one of Crecy, where the French army was defeated and John of Luxembourg died, having engaged in this battle while already blind.

Well-known for the John’s claim: "Far be it that the King of Bohemia should run away. Instead, take me to the place where the noise of the battle is the loudest. The Lord will be with us. Nothing to fear."

During the time of Charles IV, the Pope lived alternately in Rome and Avignon, and Charles visited both seats of the Popes to deal with them as Emperor. If you visit the Papal Palace in Avignon, you will see his statue among the figureheads. During one of his trips to Avignon, he was crowned King of Burgundy in the city of Arles, in the cathedral of Saint-Trophime, as King of Arelat.

At the end of his life, Charles made his last great journey from Prague to France with a large accompaniment. King Charles V of France sent his uncle and noble guest all the way to the French border, to Cambrai, the flagship of French chivalry. Charles IV arrived first at Saint-Denis, which is now part of Paris, and before it was away from the city. He stopped at the cathedral where all those he remembered from his childhood are buried: Charles IV Le Bel and his wife, Marie de Luxembourg, who was Charles' aunt. In Paris, he met with King Charles V.

Charles IV donated to the Slavonic monastery in Prague an illuminated manuscript Reims Gospel dated to the 11th century. In the 15th century, this manuscript was transported to Reims via Constantinople. The manuscript thus became part of the treasure of the temple of Reims and constitutes an important monument written in the language and script of Old Slavonic. All kings of France swore on it at their coronation.

A lot of time has passed since then, but the ties between the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia and France have endured. Today, the Czechs are one of the national minorities in France, with people of Czech nationality or origin. This situation is due to the German and Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia and the communist regime. Czechs were active members of the French Foreign Legion, with over five thousand serving after World War II. The most famous Czechs in France today are certainly the painter Alfons Mucha and the writer Milan Kundera.

I hope you have enjoyed this journey through history and that it has enriched you. Thank you for your attention.