Die Stadtbücher in Böhmen bis 1350

Abstract

This paper discusses five municipal books which originated in the first half of the 14th century. They are probably the only municipal books preserved from this period, since the practice of preserving municipal books became a common one only from the second half of the 14th century. The paper deals with the Czech Lands in a stricter geographic (narrower) meaning, i.e., without Egerland and the Land of Klodzko. The following books were discussed: the municipal book of the Old Town of Prague, created in the year 1310, the municipal books of Nový Bydžov (from 1311), Litoměřice (from about 1341), Kolin (from 1341), and Louny (from 1347). The municipal books differ significantly both in their contents and in their external and internal features. Some of them were used during a long period of time, even until the 16th century, and their contents and features changed over the course of that time. On the other hand, a municipal book could be a part of a series of books of the same type, as well. The various functions of the municipal books, and their place among the different types of municipal records, as well as their positions in the life of the various towns were discussed on the basis of the analysis of contents and the palaeographic and diplomatic analysis.