Castle system

Castle system, also known as castle organisation or castle establishment, was introduced as an administrative system during the reign of Boleslaus I (935–967), who consolidated his power by eliminating centres of the local rulers in Bohemia and replacing them with a number of residential castles subordinate only to the duke. The process of their construction was finished a century later by Břetislaus I (1034–1055). It consisted of a network of strategically located ducal castles (civitas in Latin), which served as administrative, economic and judicial centres in their area. They also had an important military function – every administrative castle served as a rally point for the army in its ward and provided them with a strong fortification. These were, however, still Medieval fortifications rather than High Medieval stone castles. They were large complexes (5 to 10 hectares) covered intermittently with buildings that were usually protected along the entire perimeter by walls made of clay and wood and with stone revetments. Only the most famous of them, such as Prague Castle, were provided with stone fortifications from the 12^th century onwards. Castle complexes were also centres of church administration; in the 10^th and 11^th centuries they were one of a few places in Bohemia where it was possible to find stone churches, which further emphasised their privileged status.

A castle was managed by a governor (later called prefect or castellan) appointed by the duke himself. He had a number of officials at his disposal (chamberlains, collectors, foresters, judges, administrators) and usually a small army contingent, the so-called castle company. He was also at the head of all military units in his ward and in case of need led them into war. He was compensated for his service with a part of the collected taxes. His position was not hereditary and he could be deposed by the duke or transferred to another castle at any time. Castle governors were a significant part of Early Medieval Bohemian elite and were one of the groups that gradually evolved into the Bohemian nobility.

At the end of the 12^th century, the castle system ceased fulfilling its function because it was unable to react to social changes in the era of the last Přemyslids. Its role of land administration was increasingly taken over by the nobility, the church and the gradually developing royal cities, whose growing prosperity disturbed the previously closed economy of castle wards. Some of the castles ceased to exist, others successfully adapted to the new conditions and together with the surrounding agglomeration became important urban centres (e.g. Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Brno, Litoměřice, Jaroměř).