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- Année: 2011
Petr Vok of Rožmberk (October 1st, 1539, Český Krumlov - November 6th, 1611, Třeboň) was the last member of the aristocratic family of Rožmberk (also known as Rosenberg). Living in the shadow of his older brother Vilém for more than fifty years, he publicly admitted that he suffered from the "younger, unwanted, and less able sibling syndrome". From his early life, Petr Vok loved learning, knowing and inventing things, as evidenced by his keen interest in science, literature, arts and culture in general. He sponsored local literature, theatre, education (Rožmberk School in Soběslav) and arts. The library he created belonged to the largest in Central Europe. His collection of artefacts, physical instruments and works of nature was comparable to those gathered by Rudolf II at Prague Castle. He transformed the castles in Bechyně and Třeboň into Renaissance mansions, and founded - and became the grand master of - the Order of Skull.
Although he ruled in a way similar to his brother Vilém´s, both brothers had a different personality. Petr was a sensitive, open person, standing behind his decisions (this was clearly shown by his negative attitude toward the Habsburg dynasty, or his relationship with the Moravian Church). He also had a good sense of fairness. His marriage to the very young Kateřina of Ludanice (1580) remained childless, and Kateřina began suffering from an unknown mental illness, but she was well-looked after by her husband until her death. Nor did he impose excessive or new taxes on his subjects, despite his considerable debts. He looked after poor and sick people at both Bechyně and Třeboň estates. The poor from the town of Třeboň and the surrounding area were invited to Třeboň Castle for a free meal every day at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. He became a proficient manager of the Rožmberk estate in just a few years after his succession to power, twice preventing an imminent bankruptcy and division of the estate. The last of the Rožmberks was one of the leading figures in the 16th and 17th century Czech history.
Vilém of Rožmberk In the 1580s, Vilém commissioned the construction of a Jesuit College in Český Krumlov and received the Order of Golden Fleece, the highest imperial order granted to Catholic aristocrats.
Although he married four times, he remained childless, and after his death the Rožmberk estate passed to Petr Vok of Rožmberk. Vilém of Rožmberk, helped by his chief manager Jakub Krčín of Jelčany, boosted the economic development of the estate. Krčín continued the pond building and fishing business set up in the Třeboň area by famous pond builder Štěpan Netolický, built crop and sheep farms, breweries, mills, silver mines, glass works. Vilém designed a project of transformation of the castle in Český Krumlov into a Renaissance chateau, worth of his position and power, and had the summer mansion Kratochvíle (Pastime in English) near Netolice built. The first project of reconstruction of Třeboň Castle into a Renaissance mansion after the devastating fire in 1562 was also completed during Vilém´s rule.
Vilém hosted a large number of musicians, composers, painters, alchemists, such as Antonín Michael of Ebbersbach, Edward Kelly, Johny Dee, at Třeboň Castle.
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