Zavis of Falkenstein

Queen Kunegunda and Zavis, 19th Century illustration

Záviš of Falkenštejn (c.1250 - 24 August 1290) was Czech nobleman. After the Czech king Ottokar II of Bohemia was killed in battle in 1278, a Brandenburg regent was installed. In 1284, when the regent was expelled Zavis of Falkenstein took his place at the head of local nobles along with bishop Tobias Bechun of Prague. He became second husband of Ottokar II's widow, Kunigunda of Slavonia in Prague in 1285.[1] Kunigunda died only a few months later and Záviš married again to the Hungarian princess Elisabeth. He was executed on behalf of the King, Rudolph I of Germany, on 24 August 1290.

In art

He became the subject of Josef Richard Rozkošný's opera Záviš z Falkenštejna in 1877.

References

  1. ↑ The New Cambridge Medieval History: c. 1198-c. 1300 p763 ed. David Abulafia, Rosamond McKitterick - 1999 "In 1284 the Brandenburg regent was expelled and his place taken by local nobles, headed by the second husband of Ottokar's widow, Zavis of Falkenstein, and Bishop Tobias Bechun of Prague.