Havel of Markvartice, also Havel of Lemberk ( cs, Havel z Lemberka) or Gallus of Lämberg; '' fl.'' 1230–1255) was a

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

n nobleman, Lord of

Lemberk Castle Lemberk Castle is a castle in Jablonné v Podještědí in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It is located in the Lusatian Mountains. Geography Lemberk Castle is located in the village of Lvová, which is an administrative part of Jablonn ...

and burgrave of Kladsko.

Family

The Markvartici — also called Marquards — were a prominent Bohemian family flourishing under the rule of the Přemyslid dynasty in the Kingdom of Bohemia from the 12th to the early 14th century. They included several cadet branches, among them the Lords of Lemberk (Lämberg), Michalovici, Waldstein (Valdštejn),

Velešín Velešín (; german: Weleschin) is a town in Český Krumlov District the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,900 inhabitants. Administrative parts Villages of Bor, Chodeč, Holkov and Skřidla are administrative parts of ...

, and Wartenberg. Havel's father Markvart appeared as a burgrave at

Děčín Děčín (; german: Tetschen, 1942–1945: ''Tetschen–Bodenbach'') is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 47,000 inhabitants. It is the 7th largest municipality in the country by area. Administrative parts D ...

in 1220, his brother Jaroslav is likewise mentioned as a burgrave 1239, serving King Wenceslaus I at nearby

Königstein Fortress Königstein Fortress (german: Festung Königstein), the "Saxony, Saxon Bastille", is a hilltop fortress near Dresden, in Saxon Switzerland, Germany, above the town of Königstein, Saxony, Königstein on the left bank of the River Elbe. It is one ...

Life

Havel married Zdislava of Křižanov (–1252), probably at

Brno Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republic ...

in Moravia, when she was 17 years old. The marriage produced at least three sons, Havel II, Jaroslav and Zdislav, as well as a daughter Margaret. Zdislava was canonized a saint in 1995. Both Havel and Jaroslav initially were enfeoffed with the Lordship of Jablonné v Podještědí (''Gabel''). Facing the threat of the Mongol invasion of Europe in 1241, they had Lemberk (''Lewenberch'') Castle erected in the Lusatian Mountains nearby, which became vital during the Mongol retreat after the

Battle of Legnica The Battle of Legnica ( pl, bitwa pod Legnicą), also known as the Battle of Liegnitz (german: Schlacht von Liegnitz) or Battle of Wahlstatt (german: Schlacht bei Wahlstatt), was a battle between the Mongol Empire and combined European forces t ...

. Later on, Havel, now mentioned as ''Gallus de Lewenberch'', became a close confidant of King Wenceslaus during the struggles with his young son Ottokar II in 1247. He founded the town of Jablonné in 1249 and, together with his wife Zdislava, a local Dominican monastery at the site as well as a hospitium at

Český Dub Český Dub (german: Böhmisch Aicha) is a town in Liberec District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monu ...

. After King Wenceslaus granted Kladsko Land as a fief to Havel in turn for his merits, he served as a burgrave at Kladsko (''Glatz'') Castle from 1252 and founded the town of

Bystrzyca Kłodzka Bystrzyca Kłodzka ( cs, Kladská Bystřice, german: Habelschwerdt) is a historic town in Kłodzko County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in southwestern Poland. It is the administrative seat of Gmina Bystrzyca Kłodzka. As of December 2021, the ...

(''Habelschwerdt''). His son Havel II succeeded him in Kladsko and temporarily served as a cup-bearer at the court of King Ottokar II. Along with his brother Jaroslav, he was also instrumental in founding the town of Turnov.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Markvartice, Havel Medieval Bohemian nobility City founders Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Jablonné v Podještědí 13th-century Bohemian people