Ploskovice
Encyclopedia
Ploskovice is a village and municipality (obec
) in Litoměřice District
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
of the Czech Republic.
The municipality covers an area of 8.41 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi), and has a population of 384 (as at 31 December 2007).
Ploskovice lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) north-east of Litoměřice
, 16 km (10 mi) south-east of Ústí nad Labem
, and 55 km (34 mi) north of Prague
.
(1672 – 1741) had sprawling estates in the region, including the castle of Ploschkowitz (now Ploskovice), acquired by her father in 1663. She was very wealthy, and brought a possible claim to the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg through her father Duke Julius Francis
. Through their possessions the ducal family also belonged to the Bohemian
nobility.
In 1697 the Duchess married Gian Gastone de' Medici
, who later became Grand Duke of Tuscany
. They lived in the castle of Ploschkowitz. Anna Maria Franziska dominated her weak husband, which drove him into the arms of alcohol. He deplored her behaviour, "capriciousness, peevish faces and sharp words". Gian Gastone stayed with his wife for a mere ten months, before fleeing to Prague
. The Tuscan grand duchess refused to come to Tuscany, despite her husband's constant protestations. She believed that the Medici were in the habit of murdering their consorts..
Obec
Obec is the Czech and Slovak word for a municipality . The literal meaning of the word is "commune" or "community". It is the smallest administrative unit that is governed by elected representatives. Cities are also municipalities...
) in Litoměřice District
Litomerice District
Litoměřice District is one of seven districts located within the Ústí nad Labem Region in the Czech Republic...
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical region of Bohemia...
of the Czech Republic.
The municipality covers an area of 8.41 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi), and has a population of 384 (as at 31 December 2007).
Ploskovice lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) north-east of Litoměřice
Litomerice
Litoměřice is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe and Ohře in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km northwest of Prague....
, 16 km (10 mi) south-east of Ústí nad Labem
Ústí nad Labem
Ústí nad Labem is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Ústí nad Labem Region. The city is the 7th-most populous in the country.Ústí is situated in a mountainous district at the confluence of the Bílina and the Elbe Rivers, and, besides being an active river port, is an important railway junction...
, and 55 km (34 mi) north of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
History
Duchess Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-LauenburgAnna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg
Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg was the legal Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg in the eyes of the Holy Roman Emperor, the overlord of Saxe-Lauenburg, from 1689 until 1728; however, because her distant cousin George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, conquered the duchy by force in 1689, she...
(1672 – 1741) had sprawling estates in the region, including the castle of Ploschkowitz (now Ploskovice), acquired by her father in 1663. She was very wealthy, and brought a possible claim to the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg through her father Duke Julius Francis
Julius Francis, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Julius Francis was duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1666 and 1689. He was a son of Duke Julius Henry and his third wife Anna Magdalena of Lobkowicz , daughter of Baron William the Younger Popel von Lobkowitz...
. Through their possessions the ducal family also belonged to the Bohemian
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
nobility.
In 1697 the Duchess married Gian Gastone de' Medici
Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Gian Gastone de' Medici was the seventh and last Medicean Grand Duke of Tuscany. He was the second son of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Marguerite Louise d'Orléans, Princess of France...
, who later became Grand Duke of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
. They lived in the castle of Ploschkowitz. Anna Maria Franziska dominated her weak husband, which drove him into the arms of alcohol. He deplored her behaviour, "capriciousness, peevish faces and sharp words". Gian Gastone stayed with his wife for a mere ten months, before fleeing to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. The Tuscan grand duchess refused to come to Tuscany, despite her husband's constant protestations. She believed that the Medici were in the habit of murdering their consorts..