Wenceslas IV

In dramatic circumstances on the hot summer day of 16 August 1419, Bohemian king Wenceslas IV died at Nový hrádek near Kunratice, away from the extremely restless and turbulent capital. He was 58 years old. Although that is not a blessed age from today’s point of view, he had had a very long career as a ruler, considering that he had been Bohemian king for 41 years, between 1378 and 1419. In the 1000-year history of the Czech state, there have been few rulers who reigned for such a long time. Moreover, for 24 years (1376–1400), Wenceslas also enjoyed the title of German king. These are truly impressive figures. But only at first glance. The book was written as a companion publication to the exhibition “Wenceslas IV. King at the Crossroads of the Ages. 600 Years since the Death of the German and Bohemian King,” held in Karolinum between September and November 2019.