Charles IV

Charles IV was one of the most significant European monarchs of all time and was the instigator of an era of great prosperity in the Czech lands. In 1357 he founded the Charles Bridge and in 1344 construction began on the massive cathedral of St. Vitus (which wasn’t entirely complete until 1929), Charles also founded the New Town in Prague. In a poll organized in 2005 he was elected the “Greatest Czech of All Times.”
In his youth, Charles IV somewhat resembled his father, John of Bohemia, and like his father he “suffered” an interest in jousting and enjoyed the company of women. It is said that during the time of his exuberant youth in the lordship of Lucca (Italy), an attempt was made to poison him. Rumor has it that the author was the husband of one of the Parma signoras, who had made him a cuckold with her royal lover. It is more likely, however, that the attempted poisoning was a politically motivated act. Even in later years Charles indulged in knightly pursuits. On one occasion he injured his spine during a joust and was never able to straighten up properly again, thus causing the end of his knightly pastimes. Charles’s second wife, the proud and beautiful Anna of the Palatinate, took great offense to her husband’s slight disfigurement and it significantly influenced their relationship (soon after that however, Anna broke her neck while furiously riding her horse – the question is whether it was an accident or a suicide).
Charles was the son of the proud Premyslids, Elisabeth and John of Bohemia. The rift between his parents led to the separation of young Wenceslas from his mother (his original name was Wenceslas, he received the name Charles when he was confirmed by his godfather, the King of France). Another consequence was that in 1323 he was sent to be raised at the French princely court, where he married the young Blanche de Valois.
In the years 1331-1333 he acted as his father’s representative during the wild political adventure of the house of