Markvartice - history

The village is mentioned for the first time in 1281, when it belongs to Ostrý Castle. But the village name itself indicates a previous colonisation by Markvart nobility. The arms of Markvartice confirms a Markvart nobility heritage.

Červený Dvůr (Rothenhof)

There were two (or even four) strongholds at Markvartice. The most interesting of them is Červený Dvůr (Rothenhof), where the last Vartenberk, "the last knight von Rothenhofe" perished during the rebellion of his serfs and peasants at time of Thirty Years' War (1625).

A tale about the assault and death of a merchant of Markvartice is linked to an impressive reconciliation cross by the road to Růžová.

History of Northern Bohemia - between Děčín and Česká Lípa

Celtic and Germanic tribes

For the last five centuries before Christ, Celtic civilisation evolved in Bohemia from both the local proto-Celtic Bronze Age population and from Celts migrating from neighbouring Alps region. At Northern Bohemia, Celts settled also at Labe (Elbe) canyon.

In Děčín, a very specific Podmokly Culture developed at small region at the central part of the Labe canyon, influenced by Celts from Bohemia, by non-Celtic Billendorf culture of northern plains and Germanic culture coming from north by Labe river. Podmokly Culture is being considered to be the first Germanic culture at Bohemia, starting at 3-rd century before Christ, at time of Celtic Bohemia.

Being defeated by Roman Legions in 9 before Christ, Germanic Marcomanni escape from a central Germany Main valley to Bohemia, perhaps also to the north, to Česká Lípa region. After wars with Romans and conflicts with their Germanic allies, around 396 some Marcomanni were given land in eastern Austria and western Hungary, where they settled as Roman allies. Some Marcomanni join Vandals on their migration to the north of Africa. Thus Marcomanni disappear from Bohemia at the beginning of the Migration of Nations period. During Marcomanni rule, Celtic material culture still lives in Bohemia.

During the Migration of Nations period, Celtic culture vanished from Bohemia when the Germanic tribes were passing through Bohemia for several centuries. Nortern Bohemia seems to be only a pass through region with almost no signs of settlement there at that time - it seems that a cold weather which caused the Migration of Nations prohibited also the hilly area from any continuous settlement.

Slavic settlement

Since 6-th century, Slavic tribes begin to appear in Děčín-Lužické hory region of Bohemia, settling from both south (Czechs) and from north (Lusatian Serbs). At 10-th century, Czech military force holds the region definitely up to the Koenigstein fortress.

The empty hilly region has been settled by Slavic population from both Bohemia and Lusitania step by step for several centuries, till 13-th century, when era of Great Colonisation started.

Great colonisation

Great Colonisation started at 13-th century, with substantial participation of German colonists coming from densely populated regions of Holland and western Germany. Colonists were invited to the country by the kings of Bohemia, at the final periof of the great colonisation, colonists were invited also by Markvartici and Ronovci nobility.

So called stretch villages with sparse but long settlement by the single creek and road, often many kilometers in length, are signs of this settlement era. Markvartice region is a great example of a stretch village, with a line of settlement from Benešov nad Ploučnicí up to Kerhartice, by a single creek and road, at the length of 12 kilometers of continuous line of large farms.