Talk:John I of Bohemia

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Acceded to what? Count? Holy Roman Emperor? Something else?Vicki Rosenzweig

I read in another website that John I wasn't totally blind but he saw very badly!

Well, considering that the article's name is "John I, Count of Luxemburg", the answer seems quite obvious.-Alex 12.220.157.93 13:06, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

Removed the tag 'royalty who committed suicide - it says in the article he died in battle, therefore it's wrong. Griff24 13:18, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

Woeful stub of an article on a man whose name is obscure now, but who was one of the most prominent figures of his time, his influence extending well beyond Bohemia, into Germany, France, Poland, Prussia, Austria and Italy. His slogan was even adopted by the Princes of Wales. I'd like to see a proper article by a Czech or German contributor.

No longer quite so woeful, but why is he "John I"? Who was John II? Srnec 03:07, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Good point... shall we move the article to "John of Bohemia", then? --- Sandius 10:56, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I cut some statements that didn't feel right

[edit] Here they are, for anyone to interrogate, change, or put back:

• John was French by education, but deeply involved in the politics of Germany, taking part in the wars between the Wittelsbachs and the Habsburgs on the side of the former.

For me, his main concern in German politics was to further the Luxembourg cause against the Bavarian Wittelsbachs, though he allied with the Palatine Wittelsbachs, one of whom his son married. He did quarrel with Hapsburgs, but he sided with one branch of the Wittelsbachs which was at war with another branch. His son was set up as anti-king to the Wittelsbach Louis IV in the year John died. It was more complicated, I feel, than the sentence allows.

• The object of the hostility of the Czech nobility, however, he gave up the administration of Bohemia and embarked on a life of travel, spending time in Luxembourg and the French court. He did try to make Prague a centre of chivalry like the round table of Camelot of Arthurian legend.

I left the first part of this alone, though I wasn't sure about it (it's true that he was an absentee king, but I don't believe he gave up the administration of Bohemia; he started some major building projects there, for example, which made a considerable impact. His administration held firm, despite the chaos that preceded his reign, and he built a power base in Prague).

The second part, about Camelot, sounds fanciful to me. But if there is a source for this, I think it should be mentioned.

• For all this, he is an enigmatic figure: a blind knight-errant, warrior and diplomat, cosmopolitan and educated.

For me there's nothing enigmatic about a fouteenth-century king being the last four things. John certainly has an air of chivalry about him at Crécy in Froissart's account (though he is described as "nigh blind" and couldn't possibly have been totally blind — as someone above pointed out — if he was riding into battle and wellying opponents with his sword), but I'm not sure if "knight-errant" is the precise historical term required.

--qp10qp 02:07, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Crusading, Teutonic order...

I have no sources to back this up at present. But long before John became count he was crusading with the Teutonics (auxilliary, he obviously did not join the order) in the east (Poland and modern day Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia). I believe even as count and king he spent some campaigns there. He was not travelling to Poland for fun (as one might believe from the article right now). I will see whether I can find material to back this up (and in exactly which role he crusaded and during which years). Another point, he was a quite prominent jouster (and host for jousts) and of course loved battle. Lastly, if there is an interest I can go take a picture of his toombstone and add something about the transfer of his body to Luxembourg in the past century (19OO's, I just don't recall when this happened which is why I have to use a silly "past century" term:-(). Lastly, I'm adding the Luxembourgish name.--Caranorn 19:23, 3 September 2006 (UTC)