League of Lords

File:Gilvács, római katolikus templom falképei 2023 02.jpg

After John of Nepomuk was murdered at the instigation of Wenceslaus in 1393, Jobst of Moravia lead an uprising against the king.

The League began to form in the spring of 1394. The group was closely allied with Margrave Jobst. Members were bothered not only by the manner of Wenceslaus' rule, but also by his preferential treatment of the lower nobility. The founding members were Henry III of Rosenberg, {{ill|Jindřich III of Hradce|cs|Jindřich_III._z_Hradce}}, Vilém III of Landštejn, Otto III of Bergau, Břeněk of Skála, Jindřich Berka of Hohenštejn, {{ill|John III of Michalovice|cs|Jan III. z Michalovic

}}, Boreš the Younger of Bečov and Rýzmburk, and Boček II of Poděbrady.{{cite book |last1=Palacký |first1=František |title=Dějiny národu českého v Čechách a v Moravě |date=1907 |publisher=B. Kočí |location=Prague |pages=435–442 |language=cs}} They were later joined by other prominent noblemen such as Smil Flaška of Pardubice{{cite book |last1=Nejedlý |first1=Martin |title=Fortuny kolo vrtkavé : láska, moc a společnost ve středověku |date=2003 |publisher=Aleš Skřivan ml |location=Praha |isbn=80-86493-08-3 |page=389|edition=1. vyd}} and Henry III of Lipá.{{cite web |title=Ústup ze slávy|url=https://www.vinarstvipanuzlipe.cz/content/18-ustup-ze-slavy |website=Vinarstvi Panu z Lipe |accessdate=26 April 2020}}

File:Death of Markvart of Vrutice at Karlštejn on 11 June 1397.png, 1932)]]

On 8 May 1394, the League managed to capture Wenceslas in Králův Dvůr. Jobst was named as regent of the kingdom.{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Wenceslaus |volume=28 |pages=517–518 }} However, John of Görlitz, Wenceslaus' half-brother, managed to raise an army of crown loyalists and negotiated the king's release on 1 August 1394. The League continued to operate against the crown. In 1395, troops led by Henry III of Rosenberg attacked the royal properties of {{ill|Kuglvajt|cs}}, Vodňany, and České Budějovice. John of Görlitz and Sigismund of Bohemia continued to mediate disputes. On 31 May 1396, Wenceslaus briefly arrested Margrave Jobst and six members of the League.

The League grew increasingly discontent with members of the lower nobility acting as advisors to the king. On 11 June 1397, four of Wenceslaus' advisors were assassinated at Karlštejn, as orchestrated by John II, Duke of Opava-Ratibor. John was able to convince Wenceslaus that the murdered were conspiring against the crown and went unpunished.

In 1401, the League of Lords supported Sigismund of Bohemia in his claim for the throne. On 29 June 1402, Sigismund captured Wenceslaus and took him to Vienna, where he remained imprisoned for more than a year before he managed to escape with the help of John II of Liechtenstein.{{cite book |title=Velké dějiny zemí Koruny české |date=2010 |location=Prague|publisher=Nakladatelství Paseka |pages=73–79|volume=5}}

1405 marked the end of the Moravian Margrave Wars, with terms of peace negotiated between the rivaling members of the Luxembourg dynasty.{{cite news |last1=Škvrňák |first1=Jan |title=Moravské markraběcí války |url=https://www.e-stredovek.cz/post/moravske-markrabeci-valky/ |website=Středověk |access-date=7 February 2023 |language=cs |date=27 October 2013}}

Wenceslaus, still titular King of Bohemia, reached a settlement with the League. Wenceslaus appointed more members of the high nobility to important positions, however, the king continued to decide for himself the composition of the royal council, including appointing members of the lower nobility.

{{reflist}}

*