Publisher: Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích

Opera Historica

Opera Historica

Frequency: 2 issues / Country: Czech Republic

Founded in 1991 Opera Historica played a major role in the modernization of early modern research in the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution. From 2015 onwards, the journal appears as a peer-reviewed biannual with articles in Czech, German and English. We accept submissions and reviews on the early modern history of Europe and America, but our focus is on Central Europe. We prefer contributions dealing with cultural history (i.e. history of ideas and religions, legal history and history of medias). The journal has a section for discussions on the methodology and historiography of early modern research. 

The Bohemian Serfdom in Legal Documents (1648-1742)

Die böhmische Leibeigenschaft in Rechtsdokumenten (1648-1742)

Author(s): Ivo Cerman,Michal Morawetz / Language(s): German

Keywords: serfdom; Bohemia; Moravia; Silesia; Czechia; legal history; litigation; natural law; peasants

After the Thirty Years’ War the peasants in Bohemia found themselves living in a harder version of subject status (Untertänigkeit) which was known as ‘Bohemian serfdom’ (böhmische Leibeigenschaft). The present edition of German and Czech legal documents reconstructs the formative phase of this legal institution up to the Franco-Bavarian occupation of the Bohemian lands, when Maria Theresia was compelled to discuss the abolition of subject status and serfdom. It was during this debate that ministers in Vienna commissioned a legal opinion entitled Deductio ratione servitutis bohemicae et moravicae which describes the legal competencies and disabilities of serfs in full. In so doing this document, which is edited here, closes the formative phase of Bohemian serfdom. The edition, which is inspired by US works on slavery, includes also documents on the the status of newly born kids. It also focuses on natural law arguments.

The Evangelical Church Constitutions for Aristocratic Manors in Bohemia and Moravia 1520-1620

Evangelické církevní řády pro šlechtická panství v Čechách a na Moravě 1520–1620

Author(s): Josef Hrdlička,Jiří Just,Petr Zemek / Language(s): Czech,German

Keywords: church history; denominations; reformation; documents; Bohemia; Central Europe

After the outbreak of the reformation, church constitutions were issued not only by top ecclesiastical institutions, but also by individual landlords who embraced the reformation. The present volume brings a unique edition of all these church constitutions that existed in Bohemia and Moravia from 1520 till the battle on the White Mountain in 1620.

The Testimony on the Perdition of the Old World.

Svědectví o ztrátě starého světa.

Author(s): Pavel Marek / Language(s): Czech,German,Spanish

Keywords: aristocracy; Spain; multilinguism; Bohemia; Lobkowicz; letters

The comprehensive edition presents the legendary correspondence between Polyxena of Lobkowicz and her husband Zdenko Adalbert of Lobkowicz. The letters are written in Spanish, but the editor provides an abstract in Spanish, in German and in Czech for each of them. Each letter has been also translated into Czech. The edition includes an index of subjects in Spanish. The correspondence covers the years between 1618 and 1627. The letters document the events of the Bohemian rebellion from the point of view of the Catholic nobility. They discuss also intimate issues of the marital life and religious questions. Zdenko Adalbert of Lobkowicz was a deeply religious intellectual and Polyxena was a self-conscious aristocratic landlady.

Hieronymus Schlick the Elder: the Journal

Hieronymus der Ältere Schlick: das Tagebuch

Author(s): Rostislav Smíšek,Miroslava Durajová / Language(s): German

Keywords: reformation; Bohemia; Lutheran denomination; aristocracy; Jáchymov; Joachmisthal

The edition presents the voluminous journal of Hieronymus Schlick the Elder (1556/57-1612) who was one of the leaders of the Lutheran denomination in Habsburg Bohemia. Schlick sought to protect his rich silver mines in Joachmisthal/Jáchymov against Ferdinand I. He was punished for his support for the rebels in 1547. The journal covers the years between 1580 and 1582. It is written in German. The editor provides a comprehsnsive introductory essay on Schlick´s life and an analysis of his German language style. All comments are written in German. The e-book does not include pictures.

Report on the Grand Tour of Johann Christian and Johann Seyfried von Eggenberg through Central, Western and Southern Europe 1660-1663

Bericht über die Reise Johann Christians und Johann Seyfrieds von Eggenberg durch die Länder Mittel-, West- und Südeuropas in den Jahren 1660–1663

Author(s): Václav Bok,Anna Kubíková / Language(s): German

Keywords: aristocracy; Grand Tour; education; tourism; Eggenberg; Louvain; Baroque; seventeenth century

The edition presents report on the Grand Tour of Johann Christoph and Johann Seyfried Princes of Eggenberg. The journey occurred between 1660 and 1663, the aim was to attend the University of Louvain (Löwen) and then to travel through France and Italy. The report is written in German, it includes a long description of Paris and Italian cities. The introductory essay is written in German, it tells the history of the Eggenberg family and their possessions in Southern Bohemia. It also explains the methods used to finance the Grand Tour. All the explanatory footnotes are also in German. There are also explanatory comments annexed to the report, in which the editors discuss the German language style, the identity of the author, the purpose of the report and the art monuments commented in the report. The e-book does not include pictures.

The Diary of Ferdinand of Schwarzenberg from Years 1686-1688 and 1696-1697

Das Tagebuch Ferdinands zu Schwarzenberg aus den Jahren 1686-1688 und 1696-1697

Author(s): Rostislav Smíšek / Language(s): French,German

Keywords: aristocracy; Bohemia; travelling; Schwarzenberg; Belgium; international relations; Court of Vienna

The edition presents the famous bilingual diary of Prince Ferdinand of Schwarzenberg (1652-1703) which covers the years between 1686 and 1697. The first half of the diary is written in French, the second half in German. Ferdinand of Schwarzenberg was born in present-day Belgium to a French speaking family. The introductory essay discusses his life, his Grand Tour and his career at the court. The diary focuses on his activities at the Court of Vienna which is also expressed by his term 'mon journal des affairs de cour'. Schwarzenberg discussed also international affairs of his times such as the wars with the Ottoman empire in the Balkans or wars against France. The introduction and all comments are written in German.

Between Vienna, Warszawa and Moscow.

Mezi Vídní, Varšavou a Moskvou.

Author(s): Rostislav Smíšek,Monika Konrádová (Hrušková) / Language(s): Czech,German

Keywords: diplomacy; Habsburg monarchy; Russia; Bogdan Khmelnitsky; Leopold I; Poland; historical anthropology

The edition presents letters and other documents relating to the diplomatic mission of Johann Christoph of Fragstein and Christoph Beuer von Binnen to Moscow between 1657 and 1658. Fragstein was a long-term resident in the Rzeczpospolita. His mission to Moscow sought to mediate in the international conflict between the Rzeczpospolita, Sweden, and Russia over the Cossack rebellion of Bogdan Khmelnitsky. The mission was concerned mainly with the hierarchical positions of the Emperor and the Tsar. The editors focuse mainly on anthropological observations of the travellers in Russia. This issue is discussed in the introductory essay. The edition includes the Imperial instruction and letters for aristocrats and Emperor Leopold I. The diplomatic reports and letters are written in German, but the introductory essay and comments are written in Czech. The e-book does not include pictures.