Zdeniek Lev from Rosental

Zdeniek Lev von Rosental (Czech Zdeněk Lev z Rožmitálu ) (* around 1470 - † 14 July 1535 ) belonged to the Bohemian gentry . He held the offices of Oberstlandrichters and Oberstburggrafen zu Prague.

He came from the Bohemian noble family Lev von Rosental and was one of the most influential personalities in the country at the time of the kings Vladislav II and Ludwig II .

His father Jaroslav Lev von Rosental was a brother-in-law of King George of Podebrady . Zdeniek belonged to the Catholic party in the Bohemian gentry. At the age of 26 he took part in public negotiations with the Hungarian king. From 1498 to 1504 he was Burgrave of Karlstein , in 1504 he was appointed Supreme Judge and in 1507 he was appointed Oberstburggraf.

In this position he led the kingdom, because the Jagiellonian rulers stayed in Hungary most of the time. He mainly represented the interests of the Catholic class. His endeavor was to expand his rights and privileges at the expense of the other classes. In terms of character, his opponents accused him of properties such as cunning, injustice and ruthlessness. As the administrator of the royal property, there was also the charge of avarice. Historians, however, describe him as a just man who, above all, demanded proper work from his officials.

The first proceedings against him were opened in 1519 when his opponents accused him of having embezzled state funds. In 1523 he was finally forced to resign from the office of burgrave. However, his successor only lasted two years and in 1525 Zdeniek was reappointed to the office, which also benefited his friends, who were also promoted to high offices. In the meantime, however, the number of his enemies also grew from the Catholic camp, especially the Rosenbergs , from whom he contested the inheritance of Krumlov .

When the end of the Jagiellonian dynasty came with the death of Ludwig II, Zdeniek was one of the possible candidates for the election of the king. But it soon became apparent that the estates favored the Habsburg Ferdinand of Austria . And Rosental was probably too old to be elected king. He then made his influence in the choice of Emperor Ferdinand as the Bohemian King. However, while he was able to exert a great influence on his predecessor, Ferdinand was not influenced by him. In 1528 he had to resign for the second time and since then has only dealt with the administration of his properties Platten , Rosental , Wellartitz , Klenau , Opálka , Lissa , Wemschen , Drohnitz , Zdechovice , Ryzemburk, Skály and Poděbra.

At the same time, his large fortune melted due to his court, which was too large for his needs, and numerous festivals. Only respect for his power kept the believers in check. After his death, his legacy was completely consumed by debt.

Zdeniek was married to Katharina Svihovská von Rýzmberk († 1540). He left behind a daughter Anna († 1563), who married Adam I von Neuhaus , who died of the plague in 1531. His sons Adam and Zdeniek could not repay the accumulated debts. Florian Griespek von Griespach bought the claims of the creditors in 1550 and thus became master of Rosental. The Rosentaler then moved to Moravia.

literature

• The Bohemian Lord Leo's von Rožmital knight, court and pilgrim journey through the West 1465–1467 . Stuttgart 1844.
• J. Macek: Jagellonský věk v českých zemích (1471–1526) . 2 vols. Praha 1992–1994.
• P: Klučina: České země za Jiřího z Poděbrad a Jagellovců . Prague 1994.