A thousand years ago, a wealthy man built a beautiful castle in Switzerland. He named it Hapsburg Castle, and it was so beloved that his grandson Otto took the name Hapsburg for his own. His family, the House of Hapsburg, gained power over the years until there were Hapsburgs ruling all over Europe. By 1276 the Hapsburg seat of power had moved to Austria, where it remained for centuries. To keep power and riches in the family, the Hapsburgs intermarried, strengthening alliances but weakening their health. This story concerns the Kingdom of Bohemia, now known as the Czech Republic, which the Hapsburgs ruled for hundreds of years. The ruling Hapsburgs confiscated the property held by the Czech nobles and killed or exiled many of them. As time went on, the gene pool of the Hapsburgs weakened, and by the 18th century, they couldn't produce any more male heirs.
Against this backdrop, a school was erected in the Czech town of Brno in 1674. The school was designed to house and educate twelve young ladies: four Hapsburg orphans, four Czech noble orphans, and four peasants. Designed by Brno architect Jan Krtitel Erna, the Noble Ladies' Orphanage still stands today. It currently houses a Brno historical museum and memorializes the courageous young women who crossed cultural boundaries during a tumultuous time.
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The Noble Ladies' Orphanage
Historical FictionIt's 1674, and the Hapsburg family has been ruling much of Europe for the better part of 700 years. But the dynasty is weakening, and alliances must be formed with local, less-regal people. An orphanage is created to house 12 hand-picked orphan girl...
