Beautiful and Godless Secrets of Our History

Legends versus historical “truth”

The Czech Middle Ages, especially the early period, are shrouded in darkness. Yet, when equipped with knowledge of what has survived in written, artistic, or material form, along with a healthy dose of imagination, figures and events emerge before us. Despite the different backdrops, they surprisingly echo the conflicts, loves, and passions of our modern era. The renowned writer, publicist – and brilliant storyteller – Jan Bauer also views history through this lens.
Let us journey with him first to Moravia to seek traces of Queen Fritigil, who was ahead of her time, of Samo's descendants, or Methodius's grave. Among other saints, we cannot overlook Saint Wenceslas, whose earthly existence and posthumous life raise a surprising number of questions. And what about Saint Orosia, revered in Spain as a Bohemian princess, while we know nothing of her here… We are also interested in the fates of chroniclers. What was the kinship between Saint Adalbert and the monk Christian, the author of the legend named after him?
However, God seems to have turned his back on the Doudleby region of South Bohemia, as well as on the unfortunate Duke Jaromír, the young Wenceslas III, and the brave Jerome of Prague. And perhaps He also punished Rudolf IV, known as the Forger, Jiří Popel of Lobkowicz, the drunken prophet Mikuláš Drabík, the unfortunate “Winter Queen” Elizabeth Stuart, who gave birth to thirteen children (though one of her daughters – an abbess! – supposedly surpassed her in this regard), and the wild Hussite Adamites, whose “paradise on earth” was destroyed by Žižka himself. The search for the children of this legendary military leader, as well as for the roots of the Blaník legend, will captivate you just as this Central Bohemian mountain engulfed the fabled knights.
The history of the Czech nation (though some “modern intellectuals” try to convince us otherwise) is beautiful, heroic, albeit sometimes godless… In other words, it is a history that can – and should – inspire our interest and pride. We believe this book will contribute to that.