Policka
Encyclopedia
Polička (ˈpolɪtʃka; ) is a town on Bohemia
-Moravia
borderline in the Pardubice Region
of the Czech Republic
. It has cca 10,000 inhabitants. It is about 17 km west of Svitavy
.
n king Přemysl Otakar II
The name of the land Na polickach (On the Fields) appears already in the list of places which in 1167 King Vladislav I gave under the administration of the Praemonstratensian monastery in Litomyšl
. A settlement was built there gradually in order to defend the country's trading path, leading from Moravia to Bohemia through dense forests.
On September 27, 1265 King Přemysl Ottokar II issued a decree in which he ordered the Royal Administrator Conrad of Loewendorf to take proper care of "the new setting of our town Na polickach". Undoubtedly, Conrad's plan was the beginning of the basic ground plan which still exists: a trapezoid square with four corner streets leading to four gates is surrounded with a complex of buildings confined into an elliptical shape.
In 1305 Polička was mentioned as a dowry town
of Czech queens. It was Přemysl Ottokar II who first dedicated the town to his wife Kunhuta
as a dowry
. In the 14th century, Queen Eliška Rejčka
was given the town as a forfeit for her dowry by her second husband King Rudolf of Habsburg
. Later the profit from the town's revenues remained a part of the dowry of wives of members of the ruling family. Thus the reginal dowry town of Polička entered history.
In the second half of the 14th century the town streets were paved, stone houses were built and around the town a stone wall with19 bastions were constructed. The town wall was 2,5 meter thick and on the outer side they were ten meters high. Outside of the town walls the fortification system was completed by a moat.
1421 was a critical year for Polička. Firstly it was taken by Jan Žižka
and afterwards it was plundered by Hungarians under Sigismund
. During the Hussite
wars it was part of moderate Prague
town union. During the rule of George of Poděbrady
the town strengthened its fortification system with four barbicans
protecting the town entrance and a new moat
.
Polička enjoyed the favour of Jagiellon dynasty
during its rule. Later, the town was actively participating in the fight against Ferdinand I
. When Ferdinand I got to power, Polička was punished by the suspension of its rights, fined and its real estate was confiscated. Twelve years later, the town had to purchase the property for additional money. When listing of houses took place in royal towns in 1567 Polička had 200 houses in total.
In the 16th century renaissance
style buildings started to be built in the town. Examples hereof are St. Michal’s church (constructed since 1576 by Ambrož Vlach – a builder of Italian descent) and prism-shaped bell tower which is situated in the cemetery.
In 1613 Polička was devastated by fire. Only the gothic town hall and southwest part of the town was spared.
The composer Bohuslav Martinů
was a native of Polička.
with: Westerveld
, Netherlands
Ebes
, Hungary
Hohenems
, Austria
Meilen
, Switzerland
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
-Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
borderline in the Pardubice Region
Pardubice Region
Pardubice Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mainly in the eastern part of its historical region of Bohemia, with a small part in northwestern Moravia. It is named after its capital Pardubice. "There are a total of 452 municipalities in the region...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It has cca 10,000 inhabitants. It is about 17 km west of Svitavy
Svitavy
Svitavy is a town in the Svitavy District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The town has a population of 18,000 and is also the district administrative centre...
.
History
Polička was founded in the year 1265 by BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n king Přemysl Otakar II
The name of the land Na polickach (On the Fields) appears already in the list of places which in 1167 King Vladislav I gave under the administration of the Praemonstratensian monastery in Litomyšl
Litomyšl
Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
. A settlement was built there gradually in order to defend the country's trading path, leading from Moravia to Bohemia through dense forests.
On September 27, 1265 King Přemysl Ottokar II issued a decree in which he ordered the Royal Administrator Conrad of Loewendorf to take proper care of "the new setting of our town Na polickach". Undoubtedly, Conrad's plan was the beginning of the basic ground plan which still exists: a trapezoid square with four corner streets leading to four gates is surrounded with a complex of buildings confined into an elliptical shape.
In 1305 Polička was mentioned as a dowry town
Dowry town
Dowry town is the name for a town that has been devoted by Bohemian king to his wife - the queen consort.This was sometimes indicated by the name of the town, as in the case of Hradec Králové , Dvůr Králové nad Labem or Městec Králové...
of Czech queens. It was Přemysl Ottokar II who first dedicated the town to his wife Kunhuta
Kunigunda of Slavonia
Kunigunda Rostislavna was Queen consort of Bohemia and its Regent from 1278 until her death. She was a member of the House of Chernigov, and a daughter of the ruler of Slavonia....
as a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
. In the 14th century, Queen Eliška Rejčka
Elisabeth Richeza of Poland
Elisabeth Richenza of Poland was a daughter and the only surviving child of Przemysl II of Poland and his second wife Richenza of Sweden, herself a daughter of Valdemar I of Sweden and Sofia of Denmark.Her name at birth was Richeza; she adopted the name Elisabeth after her first marriage...
was given the town as a forfeit for her dowry by her second husband King Rudolf of Habsburg
Rudolph I of Bohemia
Rudolf I of Habsburg was Duke of Austria and Styria from 1298 and King of Bohemia and titular King of Poland from 1306 until his death...
. Later the profit from the town's revenues remained a part of the dowry of wives of members of the ruling family. Thus the reginal dowry town of Polička entered history.
In the second half of the 14th century the town streets were paved, stone houses were built and around the town a stone wall with19 bastions were constructed. The town wall was 2,5 meter thick and on the outer side they were ten meters high. Outside of the town walls the fortification system was completed by a moat.
1421 was a critical year for Polička. Firstly it was taken by Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha , Czech general and Hussite leader, follower of Jan Hus, was born at small village Trocnov in Bohemia, into a gentried family. He was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka"...
and afterwards it was plundered by Hungarians under Sigismund
Sigismund
Sigismund is a German proper name, meaning "protection through victory", from Old High German sigu "victory" + munt "hand, protection". Tacitus Latinises it Segimundus...
. During the Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
wars it was part of moderate 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...
town union. During the rule of George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
the town strengthened its fortification system with four barbicans
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
protecting the town entrance and a new moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
.
Polička enjoyed the favour of Jagiellon dynasty
Jagiellon dynasty
The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
during its rule. Later, the town was actively participating in the fight against Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I or Fernando I may refer to:* Ferdinand I of León, the Great * Ferdinand I of Portugal and the Algarve, the Handsome...
. When Ferdinand I got to power, Polička was punished by the suspension of its rights, fined and its real estate was confiscated. Twelve years later, the town had to purchase the property for additional money. When listing of houses took place in royal towns in 1567 Polička had 200 houses in total.
In the 16th century renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style buildings started to be built in the town. Examples hereof are St. Michal’s church (constructed since 1576 by Ambrož Vlach – a builder of Italian descent) and prism-shaped bell tower which is situated in the cemetery.
In 1613 Polička was devastated by fire. Only the gothic town hall and southwest part of the town was spared.
The composer Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Martinu
Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
was a native of Polička.
Subdivisions
- Horní Předměstí
- Dolní Předměstí
- Polička-Město
- Lezník
- StřítežStrítežStřítež may refer to several villages in the Czech Republic:* Střítež * Střítež * Střítež * Střítež * Střítež * Střítež...
- Modřec
People
- Martin DoktorMartin DoktorMartin Doktor is the Czech Republic's best-known sprint canoer. He was double Olympic champion in the Canadian canoe C-1 discipline at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta...
- Kamila HájkováKamila Hájková- External links :*...
- Josef KubásekJosef KubásekJosef Kubásek is a Czech footballer who plays for FK SIAD Most.-References:...
- Bohuslav MartinůBohuslav MartinuBohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
- Arne NovákArne NovákArne Novák, born as Arnošt Novák, was a Czech literary historian and critic, specialist in German and Czech studies.-Life:He was born as a son of the high school teacher Dr...
- Jewish pedigrees of Pol(l)itz(er)PolitzerPolitzer is a surname deriving from Politz and may refer to:* Adam Politzer, Hungarian physician**Politzerization, an treatment technique for ear infections, developed by him* Georges Politzer, French philosopher* H...
, Pul(l)itz(er)PulitzerPulitzer may refer to:* Pulitzer Prize, an annual U.S. journalism, literary, and music award* Pulitzer, Inc., a U.S. newspaper chain* Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a non-profit organization for journalists- People :...
, etc. - Otakar SedloňOtakar SedlonOtakar Sedloň was a Czech realistic painter living in Prague.Otakar Sedloň was born on August 30, 1885 in Trpín - a small village between Polička and Kunštát in East Bohemia, formerly part of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Otakar attended primary school in Vamberk and followed on with a high school...
, born at a village near here
Twin towns — Sister cities
Polička is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Westerveld
Westerveld
Westerveld is a municipality in the northeastern Netherlands.The municipality Westerveld was established in 1998 out of de municipalities of Diever, Dwingeloo, Havelte en Vledder.Westerveld is being crossed by a channel the Drentsche Hoofdvaart...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Ebes
Ebes
Ebes is a village in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 4473 people .-Twin towns — Sister cities:Ebes is twinned with:*Meilen, Switzerland...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Hohenems
Hohenems
Hohenems is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, in the Dornbirn district. It lies in the middle of the Austrian part of the Rhine valley. With a population of 15,200 it is the fifth largest municipality in Vorarlberg...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
Meilen
Meilen
Meilen is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :Archaeological findings in Meilen date back more than 4,000 years. In January 1854 the level of lake Zürich was particularly low and the locals took the chance to gain some land...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....