testaments in premyslid bohemia Yet another nobleman, Ratmir, also suffering from a long illness with no hope of recovery, summoned the Czech king, Wenceslas I (r. 1230– 1253), and orally declared his will (testamentum) before him. In the will, Ratmir bequeathed, among other things, two villages to the monastery in Plasy. This part of his will was confirmed by an (undated) royal charter, probably at the request of the Cistercians of Plasy. At the same time, the king exempted both villages from all taxes.28 Another exclusive bequest to a religious institution, the Cistercian monastery in Žďár (on the border of Bohemia and Moravia, today Žďár nad Sázavou), is found in the last will of the Moravian nobleman Boček of Pernegg, the castle warden of Znojmo, most likely by his own hand, on 17 December 1255.29 Seriously ill and with the consent of his wife and “on the advice and counsel” of his children, Boček bequeathed, in the presence of numerous witnesses, his estates in Opava and property in the Brno region to the monastery. He sealed the testament with his seal and the seals of his brothers.30 On 1 January 1256, King Přemysl Ottokar II (r. 1253–1278) confirmed this testament to the friars of Žďár.31 On 6 January 1257, Adléta, the wife of Markvart (called the Long), again a member of a powerful noble family, in premonition of death and to prevent disputes, made her last will (testamentum) about her dowry. Part of her property was to pass to the monastery in Kněžice (near Třebíč in southern Moravia), a portion was to devolve upon her husband and to the same monastery after his death, and the village of Konice (near Znojmo) was also to be given to her husband as long as he could use it, but after his death it was to pass to Adléta’s relatives, and only after their deaths to the aforementioned monastery. Adléta disposed of all her immovable property and made her will in front of witnesses.32 308 28 Friedrich 1942, no. 22, pp. 20–21. Cf. Štachová, p. 250. 29 Šebánek – Dušková 1974, no. 60, pp. 120–122. Cf. Štachová 2012, p. 250. 30 ... gravi infirmitate laborans viam universe carnis ingressurus in remedium mee et parentum meorum animarum ... fundationi mee, monasterio sancte Marie ... tale constitui testamentum de libera hereditate mea, de benivolo uxoris mee et liberorum meorum consilio et consensu, legans in primis totam hereditatem meam .... Ut igitur huius testamenti mei constitutio ... firma permaneat et illesa. presentem cedulam exinde conscribi et mei et fratrum meorum ... sigillorum feci munimine roborari ... Šebánek – Dušková 1974, no. 60, p. 121. 31 Šebánek – Dušková 1974, no. 67, pp. 128–129.
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