Jobst of Moravia

Jobst of Moravia (Czech: Jošt Moravský or Jošt Lucemburský; German: Jo(b)st or Jodokus von Mähren; c.1354 – 18 January 1411), a member of the House of Luxembourg, was Margrave of Moravia from 1375, Duke of Luxembourg and Elector of Brandenburg from 1388 as well as elected King of Germany (King of the Romans) from 1410 until his death. Jobst was an ambitious and versatile ruler, who in the early 15th century dominated the ongoing struggles within the Luxembourg dynasty and around the German throne.

Jobst
Near contemporary portrait, from the Olomouc Law Book, c.1430
King of Germany
(formally King of the Romans)
contested by Sigismund (1410–1411)
Reign1 October 1410 – 18 January 1411
PredecessorRupert
SuccessorSigismund
Duke of Luxembourg
Reign1388 – 18 January 1411
PredecessorWenceslaus
SuccessorElisabeth
Elector of Brandenburg
Reign1388 – 18 January 1411
PredecessorSigismund
SuccessorSigismund
Margrave of Moravia
Reign12 November 1375 – 18 January 1411
PredecessorJohn Henry
SuccessorSigismund
Bornc.1354
Died18 January 1411 (aged c.56)
Brno, Moravia
Spouse
  • Elisabeth of Opole
  • Agnes of Opole
HouseLuxembourg
FatherJohn Henry, Margrave of Moravia
MotherMargaret of Opava

Life

Jobst of Moravia, Gelnhausen Codex, 15th century

Jobst was presumably born in 1354 in the Moravian residence of Brno, the eldest legitimate son of Margrave John Henry, younger brother of Emperor Charles IV.[1] Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia and his half-brother Sigismund were both Jobst's cousins.[2]

Designated heir upon his father's death in 1375, he ruled the Margraviate of Moravia, and would often quarrel with his younger brother Prokop and the Bishops of Olomouc. In 1388, Jobst received the Duchy of Luxembourg, given in pawn by his cousin King Wenceslaus, son of the late Emperor Charles IV. The same year, Jobst also became Prince-elector of Brandenburg, pawned by Sigismund, who focused on his rule over the Kingdom of Hungary.[1] In 1394, Jobst joined the League of Lords, a rebellion of Bohemian nobles around Boček II of Poděbrady against Wenceslaus. He had Wenceslaus arrested at Prague Castle and later taken into custody by the Austrian Starhemberg dynasty at Wildberg. Peace was made at the instigation of Wenceslaus' brothers Sigismund and John of Görlitz; however, once released, the king had Jobst expelled from Prague. Sigismund and Jobst signed a mutual inheritance treaty in 1401, but later again fell out with each other.

After the death of King Rupert of Germany in 1410, Jobst was elected successor by four of the seven prince-electors on 1 October, opposing his cousin Sigismund who had already been elected by three electors on 10 September. The deciding vote came from his cousin Wenceslaus in his capacity as King of Bohemia. Though Jobst had the greater support among the electors, he died on 18 January 1411, possibly having been poisoned, which cleared the way for Sigismund's election as King of the Romans and his later coronation as Holy Roman Emperor.[1]

Marriage and issue

Jobst married twice, without issue:[1]

Titles

A fictionalized Jobst appears in the 2018 video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance. In the game, he is shown with Divish of Talmberg, Hans Capon, Hanush of Leipa, John II of Liechtenstein, and Radzig Kobyla planning on how to defeat Sigismund and free Wenceslaus from captivity.[3]

References

  1. Krzenck, Thomas (2013). "Ein Mann will nach oben" [A man wants to rise to power]. Damals (in German). Vol. 45, no. 8. pp. 72–77.
  2. Chisholm 1911.
  3. Warhorse Studios (13 February 2018). Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Deep Silver. Scene: Epilogue. Who is he really, this Jobst?.. The cousin of King Wenceslas? He's the Margrave of Moravia.

Further reading

  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Jobst" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 427.
  • Štěpán, Václav (2002). Moravsky markrabě Jošt (1354–1411). Matice moravská (in Czech) p. 823. ISBN 80-86488-05-5
  • Štěpán, Václav (2000). Margrave Jobst - his personality and relationship with the other members of the Luxembourg family, in:Moravští Lucemburkové 1315–1411. Brno municipal museum (in Czech - short abstract English) pp. 73–145. ISBN 80-901969-7-7
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