The Letter of Majesty issued by Emperor Rudolf II in 1609: its genesis, the state of research and conceptual considerations
Abstrakt
Historical events and circumstances under which the Letter of Majesty issued by the Emperor Rudolf II. 1609, originated, as well as its contents, are indisputable evidence of the importance of this historic document. The attention of historians, which in some periods the Letter of Majesty gave was different.
In the second half of the 19th century until 1939 we see extraordinary interest, which was connected not only with new challenges Czech historiography, and especially with the release of the political situation. In the period after 1945 when it was raised communist ideology and the censorship, it is apparent retreat from the topic of church history.
Although it was after 1989 were again created favorable conditions for the revival of historical research in all thematic planes failed to continuity of research that would lead to the discovery of new facts and therefore the interpretation of the events of 1609, to recover sufficiently. Among the reasons we can appoint general underestimation of religious issues in the thinking of contemporary European population and its political elites, but also quite specific cause.
For it to be truly created a new conception of history of the Letter of Majesty is missing a systematic source investigation. The planned edition of the Sněmy české (Böhmische Landtage, Bohemian Councils), which was part of the research of this document, not as a result of the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 and the establishment of cultural policies of the communist government after 1945 completed.