Source: National Archives & Historic Records of Kingdom of Bohemia
Monarchy • Historical Archive • 🇨🇿 Kingdom of Bohemia • 1 views

Charles IV 🇨🇿

Václav (Karel) (Known as "Karel IV (Otec vlasti)")
Holy Roman Emperor (1355–1378), King of Bohemia (1346–1378)
Born 1316-05-14 🇨🇿 Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia
Passed Away 1378-11-29 Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia
Lifespan 62 years old
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Notice / Correction
"To love wisdom and adorn one's capital with learning is the highest glory of a righteous monarch."

Archival Overview

Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia revered as 'Otec vlasti' (Father of the Homeland), who founded Charles University (1348), built the Charles Bridge, and made Prague the magnificent capital of the Empire.

Biographical Record

Born Václav in Prague on May 14, 1316, of the House of Luxembourg, he adopted the name Charles at his French royal confirmation. Crowned King of Bohemia in 1346 and Holy Roman Emperor in Rome in 1355, Charles transformed Prague into the cultural and political capital of Christendom.

In 1348, he founded Charles University—the first university in Central Europe—and the New Town of Prague (Nové Město). He commissioned the iconic Charles Bridge, Karlštejn Castle to house the Imperial Crown Jewels, and issued the historic Golden Bull of 1356 that codified imperial constitutional law for over four centuries.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
St. Vitus Cathedral Royal Crypt
Prague, Czech Republic
GPS: 50.0909, 14.4005
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