Historica Olomucensia

Historica Olomucensia 1 (2025), 66-86 | DOI: 10.5507/ho.2025.016

The Černín Women in War: Reflections of War in the Correspondence of Zuzana Černínová of Harasov (1600–1654), Alžběta Myslíková of Chudenice (1624/1625–1645), and Sylvie Černínová of Millesimo (1606–1664) from the 1640s

Veronika Mezerová

University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

This study delves into the wartime correspondence of three noblewomen from the Černín family during the Thirty Years’ War: Zuzana Černínová of Harasov, Alžběta Myslíková of Chudenice, and Sylvie Černínová of Millesimo. Their letters provide a unique perspective on the impact of war on daily life, family relationships, and societal structures in the seventeenth century. The correspondence reveals the women’s roles as estate managers, their interactions with both friendly and enemy troops, and their efforts to navigate the challenges posed by the war. The study highlights the importance of aristocratic correspondence as a historical source, offering insights into the intellectual and social world of the Early Modern period. Through their letters, these women not only maintained family ties, but also became keen observers of significant historical events, reflecting on the broader social and political contexts that shaped their lives.

Keywords: familial correspondence; gender; Thirty Years' War; Zuzana Černínová; Sylvie Černínová

Received: February 18, 2025; Revised: June 26, 2025; Accepted: September 26, 2025; Published: December 2, 2025  Show citation