Majestätsbrief, Majestát on náboženskou svobodu or Rudolfův Majestát) - documents issued on 9 July 1609 and 20 August 1609 by the emperor Rudolf II guaranteeing freedom of religion in the Czech Republic and Silesia.
In 1575, the Czech Lutherans, New Territories and Bohemian Brethren formed a common denomination called the Czech Confession. Hussites' views were based on the confession, but the postulates of the Lutheran and the Czech brothers were also taken into consideration. Theological issues were avoided, and the focus was on organizational matters. The new confession was to direct the consortium, which was to be subjected to earthquake surveillance through select defenders.
At the end of the 16th century, Catholics in the Czech Republic constituted only 12-15% of the population. However, in the years 1598-1599 Catholics took over the highest offices in the state. They were supported by Czech and Hungarian kings, as well as Emperor Rudolf II. In 1604 he announced that Catholicism was the only permitted religion in Hungary. This led to the outbreak of the uprising under the leadership of the 7th-century noble Stefan Bocskaya, who entered the Czech Kingdom. He did not find support there and was repatriated to Hungary. In 1606 the Habsburgs occupied peace with Bocskay because of the danger of the Turkish people. Rudolf II did not want to sign it, and his brother Archbishop Maciej signed it instead.
Soon, Maciej began his efforts to dethrone Rudolph. In the years 1607-1608 it gained the support of the Austrian and Hungarian states, and finally the Moravian ones. The army of Maciej in April 1608 entered the Czech Republic. The leader of the Moravian opposition, Karel the elder of Žerotín, called upon the Czech states to support the Archduke. Czechs, however, refused, as Rudolf II promised to fulfill their demands. In this situation, Maciej and his brother peacefully settled in the palace of Libni near Prague, gaining power over Hungary, Moravia and the Austrian lands. Rudolf stopped the Czech Republic, Lower and Upper Lusatia and Silesia. He also had to ratify the contract with Bocskay.
Soon the Czech state opposition began talks with Rudolf II, which resulted in the emperor issuing a majestic letter on July 9, 1609. The document approved the Czech confession, allowed the states to fill the lower consistory consisting of 24 seniors, managed the university in Prague and selected 30 defensors. The document decided that no one could be forced to accept any confession against his will. The letter strengthened the so-called. Addendums containing the provisions on equality of Catholics with Protestants and the granting of rights to defensors. The emperor also swore that he would not confiscate property to political opponents. On July 22, 1609, the letter was entered into the land register and became legally binding. He also worked in the Kłodzko and Loketski counties.
August 20, 1609 Emperor issued a majestic letter to Silesia. Catholics and Lutherans were able to have churches, schools, and freely devotional services. The governor general's office could only be held by secular princes (since 1536 he was bishop of Wroclaw, who was also the prince of Nysa).
After the defeat of the Czech states in the Battle of the White Mountains, Emperor Ferdinand II proclaimed November 23, 1620 that the Majestic Letter ceased to be valid. Bibliography
wiki
Comments
Post a Comment