Aleš and Petr Holicky, Two Generations of Sternberks and Their Impact on Czech Political Scene in the First Half of the 15th Century

The exam for the doctorate thesis deals with two representatives of the Sternberk dynasty: Ales Holicky and his son Petr. Firstly, it focuses on Ales and his activities in Zikmund's camp. It surveys Sternberk's political programme, its fulfilment and goals. Further, it follows Ales's political orientation after the conversion to chalice in the beginning of the 30s of the 15th century and tries to cover the grounds for Ales's rise including the influence of the political coalitions of which he was a member. In that context, Ales's role in Ptacek's and Podebrad's party is explained as well as his part in formulating and promoting their demands. On the basis of the required findings, the thesis attempts to show who in fact profited from Ales's policy. Was it only Ales, respectively his dynasty, the utraquist coalitions of which he was a member, or the country as well? The thesis also tries to revise some conclusions of previous historiography, in which Ales's influence in the parties he was a member of as well as his ability of an independent conduct have been under evaluated. Having made a successful career in the revolutionary and difficult period of the first half of the 15th century, Ales should rightly rank among the significant, although not cardinal personalities of the period who deserve our attention...