Wiliam Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk

This work dealing with the William Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk (1572-1652) is focused mainly on outstanding issues and blind spots associated with the life and career of the Czech aristocrat who became one of the leading figures of the Habsburg monarchy of his time. The content of the first part is a detailed description of Slavata's stay and activities in exile. Attention is paid to little-known facts relating to his participation in political talks on the future direction of the Bohemian Kingdom and the Habsburg monarchy in Vienna, Prague and other places and to Slavata's writings of constitutional and confessional apologetic nature, developed during his stay in Passau. Further, it endeavours to explain Slavata's ambiguous attitude to the process of White mountain confiscations, from which he gained despite his loyalty and service to the house of Habsburg, only a small profit. Finally, the author dealt with the Slavata's problematic relationship to the commander in chief of the imperial army Duke Albrecht of Waldstein and tried to discover the roots of their hostility and explain why Slavata became one of the most persistent critics of Waldstein