Historica Olomucensia

Glitter and misery of Benedictine monasticism in early medieval Bohemia: Břevnov monastery in 993-1200

The article looks back to the origins of monastic culture in the Czech lands and tries to show complications of this development not long after official Christianisation of the Přemyslid domain on the example of the oldest Benedictine monastery in Břevnov from its beginnings until the complete consolidation at the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The author speculates about foundation of the oldest monastery in the Czech lands, its difficult times in 995-1039, the consolidation of the Břevnov monastery during the eleventh and twelfth centuries and its way to the power and cultural peak in the thirteenth century. The study summarizes the research on this topic, points to specific problems and suggests their solutions although due to fragmental sources the suggested ideas are rather hypothetical.