Kutna Hora

Lore & Background

Kutná Hora became the second most important town of the Kingdom of Bohemia after Prague and its main financial centre after King Wenceslaus II issued the new royal mining code Ius regale montanorum in 1300. Shortly after, the town became the seat of the central mint of the Czech lands, where Prague groschen were minted. In December 1402, the town was the target of King Sigismund during his conquest of Kutná Hora after the imprisonment of Wenceslaus IV. After several bloody skirmishes, Sigismund prevailed and forced the defenders to march to Kolín and kneel in subjugation. On 18 January 1409, King Wenceslaus IV signed the Decree of Kutná Hora in the town, by which the Czech university nation was given three votes in the elections to the faculty of Prague University as against one for the three other nations. In 1420, Sigismund made the town the base for his unsuccessful attack on the Taborites during the Hussite Wars, leading to the Battle of Kutná Hora.

In Their Own Story

The morning mist clings to the cobblestones of Kutná Hora, softening the grandeur of St. Barbara's Cathedral until it seems like a ghostly vision rising from the earth. Inside the narrow alleyways, the air smells of sulfur and fresh bread, a mix of the mines below and the bakeries above. A young scribe hurries past a group of miners, their boots heavy with mud, clutching a scroll that could alter the balance of power in the room where the King waits. The city hums with a nervous energy; everyone knows that while the silver coins are bright, the future of Bohemia is darkening, and this glittering city may soon be the last stand for the old order.

Reader's Guide

Kutná Hora is the largest and most significant settlement players encounter in the game, serving as the political center where major plot points converge. Unlike the rural villages or fortified castles seen elsewhere, this is a true urban environment with complex social hierarchies, bustling markets, and dangerous political factions. Visiting Kutná Hora is essential for advancing the main storyline, particularly during quests involving King Wenceslaus and the defense of the realm against the Hussite forces. The city offers unique opportunities to interact with high-ranking nobles, purchase rare equipment, and witness the grandeur of medieval urban life firsthand. However, the city is not without its perils. Players must navigate the strict laws of the Imperial Free City, avoid the watchful eyes of guards, and tread carefully in a place where a wrong word can lead to imprisonment or worse. It is a place that demands caution, intelligence, and an understanding of the delicate balance between wealth and power.

Did You Know?

• The name Kutná Hora likely derives from the Middle High German word 'kutte' meaning 'pit', not from monks' cowls as legends claim.
• Silver began to be mined in Kutná Hora in 1260, and the first mention of the town under its Latin name Mons Cuthna is from 1289.
• In 1300, King Wenceslaus II issued the new royal mining code Ius regale montanorum, which specified all administrative and technical terms for the operation of mines.
• The Italian Court, built between 1260 and 1300, is the oldest monument in Kutná Hora and served as the seat of the royal mint until 1727.
• The Church of Saint Barbara was built in 1385–1395 and is among the main examples of European Gothic architecture.