BRNO

History of the City of Brno
The man lived in Brno basin since prehistoric times, the territory of Brno was a settlement at the time of the Great Moravian Empire. Around 1000 a settlement at a ford across the river Svratka, now Old Brno, and gave the city its name. From the 11th century. There was Břetislav Castle, the seat of non-ruling Premyslid prince. Around the castle several Czech market villages – both in Old Brno and around Upper (Cabbage) market.

From 13 century. foreign colonists arrived: Germans, Flemish and Walloons, who settled around the Lower Square (Liberty). Their community and created the Jews at the bottom of today’s Masaryk. Legal support for the development of the city became greater and lesser privilege, which he gave the year 1243 the Czech king Wenceslas I. The town is surrounded by fortifications with five gates (Měnín, Jewish, Starobrněnská, Merry and Běhounská). With two parish churches – St. Peter and St.. James – the spiritual needs of fostered several monasteries: Benedictine in Komarov, the Premonstratensian Zábrdovice, monasteries of mendicant friars – Dominicans and Minorites, heburský, johanitská commandery and Cistercian in Old Brno, the monastery founded by Queen Elizabeth Rejčka. Špilberk Castle was the 13th century, rebuilt in the Gothic style. The city was in the 14th century. seat of the Moravian Margraves and experienced its heyday. Then it was in about 1000 houses and 11 000 inhabitants. With the right markets to grow annual international trade which compelled a thorough understanding of the law, and so r.1355 assembled a town hall clerk John Book Brno aldermen statements, which became legal in many model towns. The head of the city was mayor and city council of twelve aldermen. Since the mid-14th century. Brno, the Moravian provincial seat assemblies, which met alternately in Brno and Olomouc. The Earth government authorities to address issues of political, judicial and financial records and led the provincial boards.

During the Hussite Wars the town remained faithful to King Zikmund and the Hussites twice laid siege in vain r.1428 and 1430th It took place here the first diplomatic negotiations that resulted in the Basel Compacts. In 1454 King Ladislav Posthumous banished Jews from the city, and they rallied today Křenová Street. For King George of Podebrady, Brno added to his adversary Matthias Corvinus, acknowledged in Moravia in the Czech king. In two civil wars in the 15th century. stagnant number of houses and population and trade declined.

In the mid-16th century. Brno started to lean towards Protestantism, whose adherents gained supremacy in the city council. Rekatolizační efforts led to the city a new Catholic orders, including in particular the Jesuits and Capuchins gained great influence. Pre-White population of the time was roughly the same level as 200 years ago. The city joined the 1619 uprising, for which he was punished. In 1643 and especially 1645 is the only city in Moravia, withstood a long siege by Swedish troops, and enabled the formation of a new Austrian Empire army and stop the Swedish pressure. When defending a distinguished military commander Radouit de Souches and rector of the Jesuit P. Martin Wednesday. The city was rewarded for his merits with new privileges, including the promotion of a character. During the Thirty Years’ War Brno became the sole capital of Moravia, and since 1641 has been permanently stored in Brno, the Provincial board for Moravia. After the Thirty Years War the city became an impregnable baroque fortress. In 1742 the conquering Prussians in vain. The position of Brno also underlined the bishopric in the year the 1777th

In the 18th century. leads to the development of industry and trade, which continued into the next century. In Brno focuses textile and engineering industries, are quickly introduced the latest technology and in 1839 arrived in Brno, the first train. With the development of industry growing suburbs and the city loses its character as Spilberk fortress from which it became famous prison. Besides the criminal criminals here were closing and political opponents of the Austrian Empire. Gradually destroy the walls of which are along the lines of Vienna, replaced buildings and green spaces, forming a new ring road. In 1850 the city is connected to 32 neighboring villages, so the population has reached 46 thousand. It introduced gas lighting (r.1847), tram (r.1869), formed high school, grammar school and high school (r.1873 German technique, Czech 1899). At the turn of the 19th and 20th century. culminating in ethnic conflicts between the German and Czech population. The predominance of Germans in the city government ends up in 1919.

During the First Republic was the second city of Brno to Prague – both in size (r.1921: 210 thousand. Inhab., 1937: 300 thousand.), And meaning – the Silesian capital of the country. At that time, was founded Masaryk University (1919) and an exhibition of contemporary culture is open to the Brno Exhibition Centre (1928). The city was not only the center of industry and commerce, but also education and culture. The celebrities are mainly acted Leos Janacek, Viktor Kaplan, Jiří Mahen and Bohuslav Fuchs.

The Second World War caused considerable damage to Brno. During the Nazi occupation, died on the scaffold in rails in Kounicovy many Czech citizens. As a result, the evacuation of German population in Brno in 1945. The following season brought the communist government economic and political stagnation, the consequences are still difficult to overcome.