The Bohemian Royal Towns (Pilsen, České Budějovice, Cheb) under the Power of Matthias Corvinus

Abstract

This study deals with the fate of the only three Czech royal towns, which during the protracted confl ict over the Czech throne (1468–1479) declared themselves under the auspices of the Hungarian ruler Mathias Corvinus (České Budějovice, Pilsen), or had his authority under the title of King of Bohemia (from May 1469) successfully applied over them (Cheb). It reveals the motives for their leaning to the side of Mattias Corvinus and analyses their positions as military powers and, to a lesser extent, intelligence centres, deals with the changes in the holdings of real estate property in the towns in the course of Corvinus’s reign, and shows the compositions of the town councils, their eff orts to maintain independent political approaches (especially in the case of Cheb) and the development of their relations with the military command of the city. Attention is also paid to the ecclesiastical administration and cultural level of these municipalities during Matthias’s reign.