Jan Milíč of Kroměříž and Emperor Charles IV: Preaching, Power, and the Church of Prague

During the second half of the fourteenth century Jan Milíč of Kroměříž became an active and popular preacher in Prague. The sermons which he delivered focused primarily on themes of reform, and called for a renewal within the Church. Despite a sustained popularity with the lay populace of Prague, Milíč faced opposition to his practice from many individual members of the city’s clergy. Eventually he was the subject of twelve articles of accusation sent to the papal court of Avignon. Because of the hostility which Milíč faced, historians have most often written of him as a precursor to the Hussites. As a result he has been identified as an anti-establishment rabble-rouser and it has been assumed that he conducted his career in opposition to the court of the Emperor Charles IV. This thesis, over four body chapters, examines the careers of both Milíč and Charles and argues that instead of being enemies, the two men shared an amicable relationship. The first chapter examines Milíč’s career and will prove that he was well-connected to Charles and several members of his court. It will also examine the most common reasons given to argue that Charles and Milíč were at odds, and disprove them. The second chapter focuses on Milíč’s work in the city of Prague and shows that the preacher was of assistance to the emperor in his quest to remake the city as a new spiritual capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The third chapter examines the concept of the ‘Church of Prague’ championed by both Milíč and Charles, and the efforts of both men to promote it throughout the Empire. The fourth chapter discusses Milíč’s ability to assist Charles in the acquisition of power in Bohemia, the Empire, and away from the Church