Bezdez Castle

Bezdez Castle - Státní hrad Bezděz, Bezděz, Doksy, Liberec Region, Czech Republic.

Most likely during the 1260s, the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II took advantage of a prominent hill overlooking an older manor and had a fortified stone castle built there to defend a trade route and counter the expansionist ambitions of the neighboring Ronovic and Markvartic families. By 1278, following the death of Přemysl Otakar II, the castle was undoubtedly habitable, as it was occupied by a Brandenburg garrison that same year.
The "Iron and Golden" King, Přemysl Otakar II, sought to consolidate his power against the nobility by constructing impregnable castles and founding royal towns.
The specific stylistic orientation of the master builders who constructed Bezděz was—as suggested primarily by the magnificent chapel—most likely Hessian. The construction team certainly fulfilled its task to the monarch's complete satisfaction, creating a truly impregnable castle and a residence of high artistic value for its time.
The castle, intended to be a fitting residence for our kings, became a prison for Přemysl’s seven-year-old son Wenceslaus and the widowed Queen Kunhuta shortly after Přemysl’s death (August 26, 1278) at the Battle of Dürnkrut (on the Marchfeld). They were brought there on the night of January 25–26, 1279, by the young prince's guardian, Otto of Brandenburg—the country's administrator, who nonetheless treated the land like a conqueror.
In the early 14th century, the castle passed into the pledged possession of the local nobility. With royal authorization, Hynek Berka of Dubá founded a new settlement to the east called Nový Bezděz, to which he transferred all town rights in 1337. This settlement was later renamed Bělá pod Bezdězem.
The castle returned to direct royal administration following the accession of Charles IV to the throne.
Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, sought to reclaim all mortgaged royal estates and to provide the country with a solid legal code known as the *Maiestas Carolina*. This code stipulated that royal property must never again be mortgaged, and Bezděz was among the estates explicitly named in this provision. However, the nobility never accepted or recognized this code, as it curtailed their rights.
Charles IV frequently stayed at Bezděz Castle; in 1366, together with his burgrave Oldřich Tista of Libštejn, he established the "Great Pond" (*Velký rybník*), which was later renamed Lake Mácha (*Máchovo jezero*) in honor of K. H. Mácha. Poem: *The Prisoner at Bezděz* (download available).
During the Hussite Wars, the castle became the Catholic Church's most powerful stronghold in northern Bohemia. Its impregnability was held in such high regard that the Land Rolls (*Zemské desky*)—the official records of land ownership—along with significant ecclesiastical and secular assets, were transferred there from Prague.