| Abstrakt: |
The intent of this article is to recall a crucial event in the history of Uherský Brod, at one time a royal town but, since 1506, owned by the family of Kunovice. In the year 1611, their indebtness forced them to offer the town for sale. A prominent Moravian nobleman and Bohemian Brother Oldřich of Kounice expressed interest. The burghers tried to block the sale, arguing that the charter of king Vladislav Jagiellonian gave the town exclusively to the family of Kunovice and that it should now revert to royal possession. The prospect of the sale triggered an intense legal battle which embroiled even the Moravian hetman Karel of Žerotín Sr. by virtue of his office. The sale was eventually confirmed as valid by them on arch and concluded in September 611. The new owner, Oldřich of Kounice, issued a town's charter in 1614 which, in addition to economic privileges, recognized the freedom of two confessions: that of the Unity of Brethren and a utraquist church. In doing so, he cited specifically the Letter of Majesty by Rudolf II from 1609, although it did not cover Moravia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
