Prague, Nov 29 (CTK) – A sculpture of Eliska, the 14th-century Bohemian queen from the domestic Premyslid dynasty, together with her small son, future Holy Emperor Charles IV, was unveiled in the courtyard of the historical complex of Charles University in Prague, on Monday, Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) wrote on Tuesday.
A suitable site for the installation of the three-metre-tall metal sculpture was sought since the spring when the 700th birth anniversary of Charles IV was celebrated.
The sculpture was promoted by Augustin Karel Andrle, a lawmaker from the opposition Dawn movement who focuses on Queen Eliska’s legacy.
It is a work by Karel Bures, a blacksmith and Andrle’s friend from their home town of Vysoke Myto, east Bohemia.
Earlier this year, MfD wrote that Andrle proposed the installation of the sculpture in the Prague Castle complex, the seat of Czech presidents. The plan was reportedly hailed by President Milos Zeman but it got bogged down on the opposition of heritage conservationists.
Andrle then said he has contacts in the European Parliament seat in Strasbourg where the sculpture might be placed.
Eliska (1292-1330) was a daughter of the last but one Premyslid King of Bohemia, Vaclav II. After the Premyslid dynasty died out on the male side, she was married to young John, then 14-year-old son of the Roman king from the Luxembourg dynasty, in 1310. Their oldest son, after two daughters, was future Emperor Charles IV (1316-1378).
“Eliska of Premyslid was the greatest woman of our history, but she has completely fallen into oblivion. It was her who married John of Luxembourg and united the two disputing dynasties. Owing to her, peace lasted for 120 years in the Czech Lands,” Andrle argued earlier this year, cited by MfD.
