Centre of the Brno land: a princely castle built between 1021 and 1034 by the Svratka ford, which gave its name to the settlement beside it (first named 1091).
In 1200 it is a castle with a market settlement of traders and craftsmen on the road from the Danube to Olomouc; the town proper, with its privileges, is founded by King Wenceslaus I only in 1243.
Who holds it
- Name
- Margrave Vladislaus Henry, probably, through his castellan (not named)
- Title
- Lord of the castle
- Since
- 1197 (probably)
- Confidence
- medium
German Wikipedia (Brünn); Czech Wikipedia (Vladislav Jindřich).
Lord in 1200
The margrave, probably ('possibly' in Czech Wikipedia), through an unnamed castellan.
How things stand that morning
A castle with a market settlement, not a town; held by the margrave, probably.
Charter
None in 1200. Royal town founded by Wenceslaus I in 1243.
Council
None: the place is governed by the prince's or the bishop's officers.
Militia
None of its own; the men of the castle district serve under the castellan.
Walls and castle
The princely castle; the settlement is not walled as a town.
Trade and crafts
Market at the castle; the long-distance road from the Danube northwards.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Castle date, first mention and town foundation from German Wikipedia; the margrave's hold is 'possible' in the Czech account.
Primary sources for Moravia
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Jarloch (Gerlach), abbot of Milevsko, Jarloch of Milevsko (about 1200 to 1220). The last Bohemian narrative before 1200, continuing Vincentius of Prague. Read online
- The Austrian and Salzburg annals (kept in the 12th and 13th centuries, with continuations to the late 13th century). A family of monastic annals from Austria, Styria and Salzburg, printed together. Read online
- Charters and letters of the kingdom of Bohemia, volume 2, 1198 to 1230 (documents of 1198 to 1230, edited 1912). The critical edition of every Bohemian and Moravian charter and letter from Ottokar I's accession to 1230.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.