History of Prague

The history of Prague is held over two millenia during which the city developed of a core of dwelling between Vyšehrad and the Oppidum of the Château of Prague downtown multicultural, capital of the modern European State which is the Czech Republic.

Before the great invasions

The area of Prague is populated as of the Paléolithique. As the remainder of Bohemia, Prague is first of all inhabited by the Boïens, Celtic people which arrives here around the year -200 and which occupies a camping in the south of the current city called Závist. They are driven out area by the Marcomans, a Germanic tribe then the Avars replace them before leaving towards the west under the pressure the Slaves which settle there at the 6th century.

Capital of the duchy then kingdom of Bohemia

According to the legend hawked by Cosmas of Prague, the city is rested by the princess Libuše and her husband Přemysl, also founder (mythical) of the dynasty of the Přemyslides. That the legend is true or false, of the archaeological excavations attest human presence at the 9th century on the heights of Vyšehrad, on Right Bank of the Vltava, and those of the future Château of Prague on left bank. Located at the center of the plains of Bohemia, with the crossing of East-West and North-South trade route which crosses Europe, Prague develops to become the capital of the duchy of Přemyslides and a shopping mall: the first hard copy mentioning Prague goes back to 965 and is the fact of a Jewish merchant of Andalusia, Ibrahim ibn Ya' qub. The city becomes évêché in 973.

In 1170, Vladislav II makes build, out of wood, the first bridge on Vltava, the bridge of Judith who, collapsed in 1342 will be replaced by a stone bridge, celebrates it Pont Charles.

Otakar II founds Malá Strana in 1257 which receives a municipal charter then and lodges the German community which autoadministre according to the Droits of Magdeburg. On other bank of Vltava, the Old city of Prague develops around its historical core of Týn and is populated of Czech and a Jewish community in what will become Josefov.

Capital of the Holy roman Empire

Charles IV of Holy roman Empire is prince energetic which, before even to become emperor, transforms radically city which, in 1344, is high with the row of archbishop's palace (rise which involves the rebuilding, in Gothic style in the Cathédrale Saint-Guy in Prague) and with which it associates, in 1347 the News-City of Prague which doubles the surface of the Old woman-City enclosed in its walls of the 13th century.

To deal with the population growth of its capital, the April 3rd 1347, Charles IV signs a decree deciding the greatest operation of Urbanisme of the Moyen-âge, which does not have its equal in Europe of the 14th century. It decides to join together the various external districts to make a new city of it. The plan of urbanization testifies to a will of rigor, as well for the rules and the times of construction as for the geometrical drawing of the streets.

1348 is marked by the foundation of the Université Charles of Prague, the first university of Central Europe and first German university. Lastly, in 1355, Charles IV fact of Prague the capital of the Holy Germanic Roman Empire. In 1357, the construction of the Pont Charles is undertaken to replace the bridge of Judith destroyed at the time of the snow melt in 1342.

Prague is then the third most populated city Europe. It is an arts center and religious of first importance and it is here which is born the first stammerings from the Réforme with Jan Hus which preaching in the Chapelle of Bethlehem against the abuses the catholic hierarchy, in particular against the traffic of the Indulgence S. Its death, in 1415, on roughing-hew it, at the time of the Concile of Constancy puts fire at the powders in Bohemia and mark the beginning of the Croisades against Hussites.

In 1419, Hussites take the control of the city, the emperor Sigismond sends an army to take again possession of the city but this one is demolished. It is not that with the Bataille of Lipany, in 1434, that Pragois will be put in rout. Always unsubdued, the diet of Bohemia, joined together in the town hall of the Old woman-City, elects for king Georges de Poděbrady on February 27th, 1458. Preferring a Slavic sovereign rather than a Habsbourg, the diet elects Vladislas Jagellon to replace Georges Ist But his/her daughter, Anne Jagellon wife Ferdinand of Austria, according to a dynastic agreement arranged by Maximilien I {{er}} of the Saint Worsens in 1515, and the city passes by again soon under domination habsbourgeoise.

Under Habsbourg

In the middle of the European conflicts

Under the Habsbourg, Prague is with Vienna and Budapest one of the three capitals of the empire and balances between sporadic movements of revolt (that of the diet of the States of Bohemia in 1547 for example, repressed by Ferdinand Ier) and of tender, generally imposed. Consequently, the municipal privileges, its political influence and its independence are decreasing throughout the period.

Of 1583 with 1612, under the reign of Rodolphe II of the Holy roman Empire, it is again capital imperial and knows one era of cultural prosperity at which brings fine the second Défenestration of Prague into 1618 which starts the open war of the nobility Czech, largely Protestant, towards the imperial capacity (and catholic) of Habsbourg and, to the European level, the Guerre Thirty Year old.

The defeat of the Czech armies to the Battle of the White Mountain in November 1620 and decapitation, places Old woman-City, twenty-seven leaders of the revolt mark, for a long time, the end of the hopes of independence of the States of Bohemia.

At the religious level, the Counter-Reformation beats full sound then, the Protestant Czechs (of which most famous is without question Comenius) are constrained to convert or to exile themselves. At the political level, in 1627, Ferdinand II cancels the Charte of Vladislav Jagellon (1500) and imposes the Nouvelle Charter of the States of Bohemia (in German, Verneuerte Landesordnung , in Czech, Obnovené zřízení zemské ) which imposes the germanisation of teaching and the administration.

The Paix of Prague is signed there in 1635 between the emperor and certain Protestant German princes. In 1648, at the end of the Thirty Year old war, the left bank of the city (Hradčany and Malá Strana) is invaded and plundered by the Swedish Protestant armies little before the Traités of Westphalia do not put an end to the hostilities which put the Central Europe at fire and blood.

Follows one century of peace which sees the city being embellished with the construction of chiefs of work baroques like the church Saint Nicolas's Day de Malá Strana, the Palais Kinský and Šternberk, the Archevêché of Prague and completion baroque of the Château of Prague.

In 1741, the War of succession of Austria sees the arrival of the troops of Frederic II of Prussia, allied with the French Army of the Maréchal of Beautiful-Isle which put the seat and take the city. A little later at the time of the War Seven Year old, the Battle of Prague, on May 6th 1757 mark the victory of the Prussians over the Austrians and the Russians but, in spite of their victory, the Prussians cannot seize Prague

February 12th, 1784 is an important date in the history of Prague: it is born then officially from the fusion of the four original cities which are

Hradčany, the “noble” district around the Château of Prague
Malá Strana, the “Small-Side” located between Hradčany and Vltava
the Old city of Prague
the Nouvelle Town of Prague, created in 1348

“Prague royal metropolis” (its official name, Královské hlavní město Praha in Czech) is the second city of the Empire with soixante-seize-mille inhabitants and 143 hectares. Josefov, the Jewish ghetto with the center even of the Old city still preserves a separate and autonomous statute.

The 19th century or inexorable rise of Czech nationalism

Administratively, “Prague royal metropolis” absorbs its satellites progressively: Josefov in 1850, Vyšehrad in 1883 then Holešovice and Bubny one year followed later by Libeň in 1901. But Prague at the 19th century is especially marked by the rise of Czech nationalism very as much as by the Industrial revolution which marks Bohemia in general and enriches the city in particular.

In 1848, all democratic Europe is raised against its monarchs and Prague is one of the most radical centers on the matter. However, the Prince de Windisch-Graetz enters the city on June 27th, 1848, and dissolves in blood the Czech Diète.

Prague, where always côtoient themselves and often clash Czech, German and Juif S, becomes a true “culture medium”. The competition enters the communities marks the architecture of the city: with the Czech National theater (projected since 1844, completed in 1881) made during the Neuer Deutscher Theater (1883-1888); the national Galerie in Prague shelters, since 1796, the collections of the nobility (pro-allemande) of Bohemia? that's no problem, the Czechs found in 1818 them patriotic Musée of Bohemia. The city also sees the construction of the church Saint-Prokop with Žižkov, of the Holy-Ludmila church in Vinohrady, of the basilica of Vyšehrad, etc the Rudolfinum, offered in 1885 to the “Czech nation” by the first bank of the kingdom of Bohemia east, wise compromise, dedicated to the prince-heir Rodolphe de Habsbourg.

The fortifications of the Middle Ages are gradually cut down to make place at a city in full growth (it reaches the half-million inhabitants at the end of the century): the Central station of Prague (built in 1871 and called “station of the emperor François-Joseph Ier” until 1918), the National museum, the German Opera, etc, as in Vienna with the Boxing ring, occupy open space left by obsolete if not useless walls.

The Czechs take little by little the capacity and their revenge: they have the majority of the first municipal council in 1861.

In 1884, the municipality sets up a plan of regulation of the Vltava and undertakes, in parallel, the cleansing of the district of Josefov, more or less shaven and rebuilt according to hygienists criteria with broad streets, mains drainage, gas, etc A few years later, it obtains the Tramway.

An artistic revival

The Art nouveau is essential quickly (municipal Maison, the main station, the central hotel in the street Hybernska, the Tower of Petřin, the industrial palate with Holešovice, the statue of Jan Hus on the place of the old city).

The decades of Art nouveau were stopped by the First World War. At the end of the years 1920, it is the Fonctionnalisme which is essential. In the same years is completed the Cathédrale Saint-Guy of Prague, with additions Art nouveau.

Capital of Czechoslovakia

The independence of the Czechoslovakia is proclaimed on October 28th, 1918. In Prague, become Capital of the new State, several symbols of Austrian monarchy are then destroyed, like the column of the place of the Old woman-City and number of street renamed.

The city is modernized and extended. In 1922, the Grande Prague is founded which includes its suburbs hitherto independent like Vinohrady, Žižkov, Dejvice, Smíchov, Střešovice or Košíře. She experiences an urban development without precedent, sees herself associating many theaters, an airport with Kbely, the Place Venceslas is remade, in 1928, to make place with the automobile traffic, the Cathédrale Saint-Guy is completed in 1929 in time to celebrate with dignity the millenium of dead of Saint Venceslas.

The Crise of 1929 without slows down this development to stop it. The Aéroport of Praha-Ruzyně is then brought into service as well as the department store Bílá Labuť built in style Bauhaus. In 1938, Prague counts a million inhabitants.

Prague cubist

The Czechoslovakian Cubisme knows a very particular vogue and goes down from the ogee mouldings in the street. At Prague and Hradec Králové, the cubism is implemented by architects like Pavel Janák, Josef Gočár or Josef Chochol which creates this typically Czechoslovakian style: the Rondocubisme. A district entirely cubist is built with Vyšehrad.

During the Second world war

Little before the Second world war, Prague accommodates the expelled Czech refugees of the Sudètes attached to the Third Reich following the Accords of Munich. March 15th, 1939, the Bohemia-Moravie is conquered in its entirety and Adolf Hitler parade with the Castle of Prague. The universities and universities are closed and the student's demonstrations repressed in blood. May 27th, 1942, in Hradčany, an attack costs the life SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, called “the torturer”.

Prague loses a big part, if not of number at least in what it unquestionably took part in the cultural radiation of the city, of its population. Exiled, committed suicide (like the poet Jiří Orten) or off-set with the Concentration camp of Theresienstadt or elsewhere, Jewish community of Prague east - literally - decimated.

It is necessary to wait the last days of the hostilities so that, on May 5th, 1945 bursts the Libération of the city by a largely impromptu Resistance around a Czech National council ( Česká národní split or ČNR ) which takes the head of the insurrection. More: 1600 barricades are assembled in the city and some: 30000 Czech men and women fight during three days against: 37000 soldiers of the Wehrmacht supported by tanks and artillery. The May 8th, the German troops capitulate. The US Army which already took Plzeň, leaves, according to prior agreements, the Red Army “to release” Prague on May 9th, 1945.

Under Communism

Shortly after the Second world war, the Czechoslovakian Communist party goes up in power, partly thanks to disillusion as for the political situation of pre-war period and in party thanks to the prestige of the Red Army which has just released the country. The elections of 1946 and 1948 give the majority to the Communists in Prague.

Impressive a monument with the glory of the comrade Stalin is built on the face of the Parc of Letná which dominates the Old city of Prague: workmen, kolkhoz and soldiers has a presentiment of themselves behind the “small father of the people” in a unit, if not imposing, at least impressive.

In 1960, a new sectorization of the city is adopted (from 1 to 10), which is still largely places from there at the beginnings of the 21e century and four additional suburban towns are absorbed by the metropolis. The decade of the Sixties is especially marked by a massive construction schedule in the suburbs where construction in panels Préfabriqué S makes call Czechoslovakian HLM panelák (word built starting from the word “panel”).

In 1968, the Spring of Prague mark the transitory town of way, it is crushed in August by the tanks of the armies of the Warsaw Pact. The Aéroport of Praha-Ruzyně sees landing the Russian planes with combat equipment. Pragois improvise a resistance and engagements take place, in particular around the Czechoslovakian radio-television and of the national museum near. XIVe congress of PCT mark end of the hostilities, the Spring of Prague and the beginning of the Standardization in Czechoslovakia.

Capital of the Czechoslovakian socialist Republic and the Czech socialist Republic

In 1969, Prague becomes the capital of the Czech socialist République, one of the two republics of the Czechoslovakian socialist Republic (of which it remains the metropolis) which is transformed into a Fédération without its name, however, not being changed. At the time of the first birthday of the invasion of the troops of the Warsaw Pact Jan Palach immole by fire, follow-up of little by Jan Zajíc and E. Plock; demonstrations hatch that and there in the city.

But these dark at the political level and stagnant years at the economic level does not prevent the city from continuing its growth. The project, almost centenary, of the Subway of Prague and that of the magistrála , the fast track which crosses the city are implemented. The bridge of Nusle joint two projects while making pass the subway under the entablature of the road bridge.

The years 1980 are neither merrier nor more brilliant than the dark ones of “standardization”. Some great work nevertheless is undertaken to equip or embellish the city: the National theater of Prague is restored and reopened in 1983, the palate of the congresses opens its doors and the district of Pankrác covers turns more ambitious (and more vacuums) the ones that the others. With Žižkov, the tower of emission of Czechoslovakian radio-television (and jamming of the foreign stations) is then built and to date remains the culminating point of the city.

After the Revolution of velvet, 1990 mark for Prague as for the remainder of the country a great change: the signs of the communist capacity are removed and the name of certain streets, places or stations of the subway “are democratized”. The pope Jean-Paul II and chair it George Bush honor the town of their visit.

In 1992, the historical center of the east city registered on the List of the world heritage.

Capital of the Czech Republic

At January 1st, 1993, it is quite naturally that Prague becomes the capital of the any news Czech Republic and the place of its institutions as the Sněmovna (only the Supreme court is delocalized towards Brno). The Bourse of Prague opens its doors there.

An administrative reform, in 1995, defines a new segmentation of the various districts of the city which become more autonomous. Towards the end of the year 1990, the suburbs see the blossoming of the first shopping malls on the model of those of the west.

In 2000, Prague is named European Capitale culture. In September of the same year, the top of the Fonds international currency meets in the Palais of the congresses of Prague, which causes many demonstrations on behalf of the movements anti-globalisation (primarily foreign) which face the police force during all the week. One year later, in October 2001, the Heads of State of the Organization of the treaty of the North Atlantic meet in the city, this as well as the removal of the seat of Radio Free Europe, involve exceptional security measures which paralyze the city partially.

Exceptional floods by their width, in August 2002, touch the city seriously: certain districts like Karlín, Holešovice or the bottom of Malá Strana are seen evacuated and are found under water. If the Métro of Prague is then, also, flooded to him and put except service for approximately six months, that takes place in the middle of the night and one deplores no victim. By chance also, the Old woman-City is protected by barriers anti-floods and, contrary to the preceding floods, remains out of reach of water.

The Championnat of the world of hockey 2004 is divided between Prague and Ostrava, the city is seen then equipped with a new sports complex, the Sazka Arena in Vysočany.

History of the Czech Republic

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