Historica Olomucensia 1 (2025), 5-20 | DOI: 10.5507/ho.2025.015

The Court of the "Winter Kingdom" – Elizabeth Stuart's Household in Prague

Eliška Petermann Harceková
Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc

This study explores the historical significance of Elizabeth Stuart’s court in Prague, drawing on a diverse range of primary sources, varying from letters to published booklets. Despite its short duration, Elizabeth’s court served as a unique example of early modern royal households, as it consisted of three distinct language and cultural groups. This mixture led to certain surprises and conflicts either within the court itself or between the court and the outside world. Conflicting contemporary accounts further underscore the ambiguity of the court’s legacy. These reports range from celebratory depictions of festive ceremonies and promises of popularity to critical assessments of religious practices—especially in connection with the queen—effectively distracted contemporaries from pressing challenges. Moreover, the research reveals that Elizabeth did not succeed in creating a deep connection with noblewomen from her new country within the first year of her reign. This contrasts with research on latter years which suggests that quite a few members of Bohemian and Moravian nobility appeared at her (or her husband’s court).

Keywords: Elizabeth Stuart; court; Frederick V of the Palatinate; Prague; Estates’ Uprising; Queenship
Keywords: Elizabeth Stuart; court; Frederick V of the Palatinate; Prague; Estates' Uprising; Queenship

Received: February 13, 2025; Revised: June 20, 2025; Accepted: September 24, 2025; Published: December 2, 2025  Show citation

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Petermann Harceková, E. (2025). The Court of the "Winter Kingdom" – Elizabeth Stuart's Household in Prague. Historica Olomucensia, 66(1), 5-20. doi: 10.5507/ho.2025.015
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