Guide

 

History

 

History of Brno

Man has lived in the Brno basin since prehistoric times, and there was a settlement on the site of today's city at the time of the Great Moravian Empire. In around 1000 a settlement was established on a ford across the River Svratka, now known as Staré Brno (Old Brno), and it was this that gave the city its name. From the 11th century, Břetislav's castle stood here, and was the seat of the non-ruling Premyslid Prince. Around the castle several Czech market villages grew up, both in Old Brno and around Horní trh (today Zelný trh/Vegetable Market). Foreign colonists started to arrive from the 13th century: Germans, Flemish and Walloons, who settled around the Lower Square (today's Náměstí Svobody). A Jewish quarter was also formed in the area that today forms the lower end of Masarykova Street. Legal support for the development of the city came with the large and small privileges that were conferred upon the city in 1243 by Václav I, King of Bohemia. The city was then surrounded by fortifications which had five gates (Měnín, Zidovská (Jews' Gate), Starobrněnská (Old Brno Gate), Veselá (Merry Gate), and Běhounská). There were two parish churches - St. Peter's and St. James', and several monasteries: Benedictine in Komárov, Premonstrate in Zábrdovice, monasteries for mendicant orders such as the Dominicans, Minorites, Heburgs, Johannites in Old Brno, and a convent for Cistercian nuns also in Old Brno, which was founded by Queen Eliska Rejcka. The Spilberk castle was rebuilt in a Gothic style in the 13th century. In the 14th century the city became the seat of the Moravian Margraves, and underwent a period of great expansion; at this time there about 1000 buildings and 11 000 inhabitants. Thanks to the right that the city possessed of holding annual markets, international trade grew. This meant that in-depth knowledge of legal regulations had to be gained, and so in 1355 Jan, the town hall scribe, compiled a book of regulations for the city aldermen, which became the legal norm for several other cities. The city was led by a magistrate and a city council of twelve aldermen. From the mid-14th century Brno became a centre for Moravian regional assemblies, which took place alternately in Brno and Olomouc. These regional authority organs made decisions on political, legal and financial questions and were responsible for the upkeep of regional records.

During the Hussite Wars the city remained faithful to King Zikmund, and the Hussites twice laid siege to the city, in 1428 and 1430, both times in vain. The first diplomatic talks were held in Brno, which led to the Treaty of Basle. In 1454 King Ladislav Pohrobek expelled the Jews from the city, and they resettled in the area that is now Křenová Street. During the reign of King Jiří of Poděbrady Brno supported his adversary Matthias Corvinus, who in Moravia was acknowledged as King of Bohemia. During both civil wars in the 15th century, the number of buildings fell and business dropped.
In the mid-16th century Brno began to lean towards Protestantism, whose representatives had a majority on the city council. In an attempt to re-Catholicise the city, new Catholic orders came to Brno, of whom the Jesuits and the Capuchins were to gain a great influence. The number of inhabitants in the pre-White Mountain period remained at a similar level as it had been two hundred years previously. In 1619 the city contributed to the Estates Rebellion, for which it was punished. In 1643 and 1645 Brno was the only city to successfully defend the Swedish besiegements, thereby allowing the Austrian Empire to reform their armies and to repel the Swedish pressure. During the defence of the city, the military leader Radoit de Souches and the Jesuit Rector, Father Martin Středa, both played important roles. In recognition of its services the city was rewarded with a renewal of its city privileges which included a new symbol. During the Thirty Years' War Brno became the only capital of Moravia, and from 1641 the regional Moravian records were held in Brno. Following the Thirty Years' War the city became an impregnable baroque fortress. In 1742 the Prussians vainly attempted to conquer the city, and the position of Brno was confirmed with the establishment of a bishopric in 1777.

In the 18th century development of industry and trade began to take place, which continued into the next century. In Brno there was a concentration of textile and engineering industries, which rapidly adopted the most modern technology. In 1839 the first train arrived in Brno. Together with the development of industry came the growth of the suburbs, and the city lost its fortress characteristics, as did the ©pilberk castle, which became a notorious prison to where not only criminals were sent, but also political opponents of the Austrian Empire. The fortifications were gradually demolished; these were replaced in the Viennese style by green areas and buildings, which formed the city ring road. In 1850, 32 neighbouring communities were added to the city, and the population reached 46 000. Gas lighting was introduced to the city in 1847 and a tram system in 1869. Grammar schools, secondary schools and higher education establishments were also built. (German Technology School est. 1873, Czech Technology School est. 1899). At the turn of the 20th century the problem of nationalism reached its height between the Czech and the German inhabitants; the majority German representation in the city administration ended in 1919.

During the First Republic Brno was the second city after Prague - both in terms of its population (1921: 210 000, 1937: 300 000), and also in importance, as it was the capital city of the Moravia/Silesia Province. It was during this period that the Masaryk University was established (1919), and the Brno Fairgrounds were opened in 1928 with an exhibition of contemporary culture. The city was not only a centre of industry and commerce, but also of education and culture. Famous personages who have worked in the city include Leoą Janáček, Viktor Kaplan, Jiří Mahen and Bohuslav Fuchs.

The Second World War caused serious damage to Brno. During the Nazi occupation many Czech citizens were executed in the city at the Kounicové Koleje (a student residence); the result of these atrocities was the evacuation of the German inhabitants in 1945. The subsequent period of Communist rule brought the city economic and political stagnation, the consequences of which we are still finding difficult to overcome.

Augustinians in Brno

The Augustinian monastic order has been present in Brno since 1356. The foundation charter of the Brno monastery was issued by the Moravian Margrave Jan Heinrich of Luxemburg. This was confirmed in 1356 by the Pope and, because Brno fell under the Olomouc diocese, the Bishop of Olomouc also had to give permission for the monastery to be established in the city by the elected Moravian Margrave. The monastery was built outside the city fortifications in the vicinity of the Rhine Gate (at the entrance of today's Běhounská Street), and is now known as the Mistodrľitelský (Governor's) Palace. During the Josephine reforms in 1782 the monastery was removed to the former Cistercian Convent in Old Brno.

Augustinian Thurn foundation

In 1653, when the Augustinians were still based at their monastery on what is now Moravské Náměstí (Moravian Square), a foundation known as the Augustinian Thurn foundation was set up by the Brno noblewoman Sibylla Poyxena Francesca von Montani, née Countess von Thurn und Walsassin, for the support of musical development. The main contribution of this foundation was the significant enrichment of the contemporary musical and musical education scene in Brno. The activities of this foundation were so wide-ranging and important, that one could say that the Augustinians gave the city a truly specialist musical school. In 1865 it was one of the sources of funding for the young Leoą Janáček, who was to later act as director of the Old Brno choir at the Augustinian church.

City of Brno Palladium

The Old Brno Madonna - PANNA MARIA SVATOTOMSKÁ. According to tradition this picture was painted by St. Luke. It was brought to Constantinople by St. Helen, and then via Genoa to Milan by the Bishop of Milan Eustorgius. Emperor Friedrich gave the picture to Vladislav, King of Bohemia, who brought it to Prague. According to chronicles the picture's journey continued when Charles IV gave it to his brother, Margrave Jan, in 1356. He probably donated the picture to the Brno Augustinians in 1373. At present the picture is situated above the "Silver" altar in the Old Brno basilica.

 

 

 

Augustinian Abbey

The Augustinian convent, founded in the mid-14th century, was promoted to the position of Abbey, thereby creating an integral part of the Order of St. Augustine, by Pope Benedict XIV in 1752. The sixth Abbot was the world-famous researcher Johann Gregor Mendel; the present Abbot, Lukáą Evľen Martinec, is the eleventh since the foundation of the Abbey. An abbacy was needed because, amongst other reasons, the Brno bishopric was established in 1777. As the Abbot had the right to use pontifical regalia (crosier, mitre, pectoral), he had to represent the church not only in Brno, but also in Moravia as a whole. It should also be mentioned that for practically the entire existence of the Augustinians in Brno, their priors have had the privilege of wearing pontifical regalia.

Chronological History

  1995:
  first building in the Czech Technology Park put into operation as part of the new VUT properties
  1993:
  Supreme Court of the Czech Republic and Highest Prosecutor's Office of the Czech Republic established, World Trade Center opened in the grounds of the exhibition centre.
  1992:
  Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Federal Republic established in Brno (from 1993 Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic)
  1991:
  first EURO CITY train stops at Brno on the Vienna - Prague route. Establishment of Office for Economic Competition (in 1992 re-named Ministry for Economic Competition), opening of Czech Design Centre in Brno.
  1987:
  new Masaryk race track built
  1970:
  beginning of construction of the Technological University (VUT) at Palacký vrch
  1965:
  construction of new Janáček Opera House (today part of the National Theatre in Brno)
  1959:
  start of regular engineering tradefairs
  1958:
  construction of airport
  1930:
  completion of the Tugendhat Villa (Mies van der Rohe) and boiler water station constructed
  1928:
  Exhibition of Contemporary Czechoslovak Culture takes place at the newly-built fairgrounds to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic
  1919:
  Masaryk University established. A further 26 surrounding communities are joined to the city, increasing the area of the city to 120 380 ha, and the number of inhabitants reaches 216 000
  1914:
  Viktor Kaplan builds his first turbine in Brno.
  1913:
  first water system put into operation
  1900:
  Tram system electrified. City is 1 150 ha in area and has 138 000 inhabitants. Building activity leads to a radical reconstruction of parts of the city centre
  1899:
  Czech Technological University established in Brno
  1897:
  city electrical power plant built
  1881-1882:
  the newly-built German City Theatre is the first building in Europe to be lit by Edison's bulbs.
  1881:
  Leoą Janáček, the famous musical composer, begins work in Brno as director of the organ school and Professor at the conservatoire
  1869:
  horse-drawn tram system introduced (replaced by steam in 1884)
  1867:
  founded the first Czech grammar school in Brno (today's Gymnázium tř. kpt. Jaroąe 14)
  1865:
  the Brno Augustinian J.G.Mendel formulates his Theory of Heredity at the Old Brno Monastery
  1850:
  29 communities joined to Brno. The city grows from 141.4 ha to 1 816 ha, and the number of inhabitants increases to 49460
  1847:
  telegraphic links with Vienna set up, first regulatory plan for the city drawn up for the expansion of the city
  1846:
  gas works built, and public gas lighting is introduced
  1839:
  first train arrives in Brno from Vienna
  1826:
  beginning of annual wool markets
  1818:
  Frantiąek (today Moravské) museum established
  1814:
  the foundations of the První brněnská strojírna (First Brno Engineering Works) established in ©lapanice (moved to Brno in 1836)
  1805:
  Napoleon's army passes through Brno. Napoleon Bonaparte spends the night in the city before the Battle of Austerlitz (Slavkov)
  1763:
  first textile factory established in Brno
  1752:
  Augustinian monastery is elevated to Abbey status by Pope Benedict XIV. From this time the Abbot has the right to wear pontifical regalia.
  1751:
  Lending Bank established in Brno
  1742:
  the city is unsuccessfully besieged by Prussian forces
  1643, 1645:
  Brno besieged by Swedish forces, who did not manage to conquer the city. The number of inhabitants drops to 4 500; the city is rebuilt as a fortress and the city walls are gradually strengthened
  1641:
  Brno becomes capital city of Moravia
  1560:
  ©pilberk castle becomes the property of the city
  1428, 1430:
  Brno unsuccessfully besieged by Hussite armies
  1389:
  Brno has 999 houses, and c. 8400 inhabitants
  1376:
  the city gains a magistrate's office and the right to freely elect a magistrate
  1350:
  Brno elevated to Court of Appeal for all towns in South and Central Moravia
  1349:
  the city becomes the permanent seat of the Moravian Margravate
  1348:
  Margrave Jan enacts the statute stating that all merchants from Austria, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere must travel with their goods via Brno
  1325:
  Brno gains the right to freely accept new burghers
  1323:
  the widow Queen, Eliąka Rejčka, widow of the Bohemian Kings Václav II and Rudolf von Habsburg came to live permanently in Brno and, according to the foundation charter, established the Aula Sanctae Mariae next to the old parish church in Old Brno on 1st July 1323, to where she invited monks of the Cistercian order.
  1277:
  first mention of the ©pilberk Castle
  1247:
  first mention of Staré Brno (Old Brno)
  1243:
  Václav I. establishes the city by granting Royal Privileges
  1231-1237:
  the joining of four settlements to form one town, which were gradually surrounded by fortifications
  1091:
  first written records of the City of Brno in Kosma's Chronicle
  1021-1034:
  Brno Castle and Church of St. Michael founded on Petrov Hill
  8th - 10th century:
  Great Moravia - local government centre at Staré Zámky near Líąeň
  5th-7th century:
  first evidence of Slavic settlement
  40-12 000 BC:
  Cro-magnon Man inhabits the area that is now Brno.
  more than 400 000 BC:
  Homo erectus - evidence of settlement at Stránská skála