14.11.1528 Jaroslav of Pernštejn was born

Jaroslav of Pernštejn was the last holder of the extensive Pernštejn family estates in Bohemia. However, he became so indebted that he had to flee abroad, where he probably died. He could not bear the responsibility for such a large estate.

He was the eldest of the three sons of Jan IV of Pernštejn, who died when Jan was twenty years old. He inherited a large estate, but had no experience in farming. The Pernštejn family achieved its greatest fame and prosperity in the 16th century, when, together with the Rožmberks, they were one of the sickliest families in the Bohemian kingdom. Only they could have their palaces near the Prague family. The Pernštejn one was called the Lobkowicz Palace.

The Pernštejn family was also one of the three most powerful families in the Bohemian lands. They had extensive estates in Moravia and Bohemia. These included the famous Pernštejn, Lipník nad Bečvou, Helfštejn, Tovačov, Brandýs nad Labem, Dašice, Lanšperk, Častolovice and Pardubice. In eastern Bohemia, they founded ponds and irrigation ditches, some of which have been preserved to this day.

The Pernštejn family usually lived to a ripe old age of around 70. Their family motto was: He who perseveres, wins. Jaroslav was an exception, not only did he die at the age of 31, but he was also heavily in debt. The young nobleman borrowed wherever he could.

"For example, when the secretary Havel went from Šontal to Austria, Jaroslav of Pernštejn entrusted him with the delicate task of arranging a loan for another5,000 gold coins, because in Bohemia and Moravia it was impossible to get more money in cash from anyone," says the Journal of the Czech Matrix.

Jaroslav tried to develop his career at court, but his debts grew so large that his Pardubice estate had to be placed under receivership in 1558. Although it was one of the largest estates in Bohemia, its income, distributed among its creditors, was soon insufficient to cover even the loan repayments.

"Jaroslav found no other solution than to flee his debts to Italy, where he tried in vain to find a way out and fulfil his cultural ambitions. He matriculated at the University of Bologna. After that he was particularly active in Hungary, but he apparently never returned to Bohemia and Moravia, nor did he go beyond the country's borders. probably found only his death in 1560," writes Marie Ryantová in her book Polyxena of Lobkowitz: The Admired and Hated First Lady of the Kingdom.

The prestige of the Pernsteins was then saved by the monarch himself, who took over their estate and paid their debts. Jaroslav died on 27 July 1560 at the age of 31. He is still described as a bankrupt and a profligate.

Sources:

Magazine of the Czech Matrix
Marie Ryantová, Polyxena of Lobkowitz.