Arnost of Pardubice

Arnošt of Pardubice, the first Archbishop of Prague and a close associate and advisor to Emperor Charles IV, is undoubtedly one of the most famous figures in Czech medieval history. This book by leading Czech medievalist and expert in ecclesiastical history, Professor Zdeňka Hledíková, presents Arnošt of Pardubice not only in his role as Charles's 'right-hand man', but also, and primarily, as a tireless and creative organiser and reformer of church and societal life, whose zeal seemed to foreshadow the reformist fervour of the pre-Hussite and Hussite periods. Drawing on numerous contemporary sources, Z. Hledíková explores Arnošt's education and spiritual world, his European outlook and the respect he commanded throughout Europe, as well as the intimate aspects of his personality and the mentality of his piety. The book extensively traces the reflection of Arnošt's personality and influence in the art of the time, his contribution to the construction of Prague Cathedral, and the evidence of the reverence this extraordinary figure received after his death.