History of Prachatice

Foundation of the Town on the Trade Path	The Decline In 17th Century
14th century	18th Century
Trade With Salt	19th Century
Culture Development	20th Century
15th century - the Hussite Wars	Today - an Urban Restoration Area
Development in 16th century

     In 1601 the last ruler of the Rozmberk dominium Petr Vok sold Prachatice to Emperor Rudolph II.The emperor supported the town and in 1609 the town again became the royal town.On 11th March,1620 the town swore its allegiance to king Fridrich Falcky and thus it took the side of the Czech Mutiny.Most of Southern Bohemia was in the power of the emperor side and Prachatice fairly distant of the basis of the Mutiny armies was expecting the attact of enemy armies.In May 1620 the town was unsuccessfully invaded by the army of Colonel Baltazar Maradas.In September the second attack lead by emperor general Karel Buqoy was tragical for the town.On 27th September the defenders yielded to a numerous superior forces and to two-day artillery attacts.Many inhabitants were murdered,the ransom up to 4,500 gold coins was imposed to the town and the privileges were depreciated.
     Not a long time after the conquer of Prachatice the Czech Munity army was defeated at the Battle of the White Mountain (November 8,1620).The rebelious town Prachatice lost all its privileges as well as its property including the Helfenburk's dominion.The town was joined with the dominion of Český Krumlov and lost the pivileges of the royal town.On December 23,1621 Ferdinand II of Hasburk gave all the dominion to his Lord High Steward of the Prince's House Jan Oldřich of Eggenberk.
     Even in the half of 17th century there were over 70 ruins and deserted houses in the town.Nearly al the time during the Thirty Years' War the divisions of the imperial army were accommodated in the town.In February 1641 the Swedes marched in the town and asked from the town the ransom of 5,000 imperial tollars.The sufferies were increased by a plague epidemie in 1647.
     The trade on the path went on declining.Already before the Habskurks supported the export of the imperial salt from the Austrian countries by imposing the bigger taxes on the Bavarian (Passau) salt.Already in June 1564 the monopoly for the imperial salt was proclaimed on the territory to the East of the Vltava.During the Thirty Years' War the emperor didn't limit the export of the Bavarian salt,because among the suppliers there was a number of his political allied.However,the trasport was very affected by the war events,mainly by the permament lack of horses and cartages.In the end of 17th century the profit of the trade on the Golden Path is estimated to be two thirds lower than around the year 1670.In Prachatice there was even established the store of the imperial salt,later on it was completed with the prohibition of the export of the Bavarian salt to towns with the stores of the imperial salt (including Prachatice).So logically Passau answered by stopping the purchases of corn,malt and brandy from Prachatice.In 1706 the salt store of the imperial salt was transfered to Český Krumlov,but the town didn't succeed to bring the trade back to life.

(Text: Mgr.Jana Koutná using the article of Jan Himler:Prachatice,in: Zprávy památkové péče Praha 1950)