Bohemia

Lore & Background

The Bohemian principality became part of Great Moravia, then an independent Duchy of Bohemia, which became a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire. It later became part of the Habsburg monarchy and the Austrian Empire. After World War I, Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia. Between 1938 and 1945, border regions were annexed to Nazi Germany as the Sudetenland. The remainder became the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia until the end of World War II. After the war, Bohemia became part of restored Czechoslovakia. In 1968, the Czech lands were invaded by Warsaw Pact troops and stayed under occupation until the Velvet Revolution in 1989. In 1990, the name changed to the Czech Republic, which became a separate state in 1993 with the breakup of Czechoslovakia.

Reader's Guide

Bohemia's history involves its rise from a duchy to a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire, later falling under Habsburg rule. The region's borders were marked by mountain ranges such as the Bohemian Forest, the Ore Mountains, and the Giant Mountains. The Bohemian-Moravian border roughly follows the Elbe-Danube watershed.

Did You Know?

• Bohemia is named after the Boii, a Celtic tribe.
• The name Bohemia comes from the Proto-Germanic Bajahaimaz, meaning 'home of the Boii'.
• Bohemia had an area of 52,065 km² and is home to about 6.9 million people.
• The Czech name 'Čechy' is derived from the Slavic Czechs who settled in the area in the 6th or 7th century.