Wenceslaus Hajek
Illustration — Ideal portrait (about 1861) Wenceslaus Hájek of Libočany (Václav Hájek z Libočan, Wenzeslaus Hagek von Libotschan, Wenceslaus Hagecius, Wenceslaus Hagek a Liboczan; late 15th century – 18 March 1553) was a Bohemian chronicler. He was author of famous Bohemian Chronicle (1541), also called the Hájek's Chronicle. This work served as the main source of Czech historical and national consciousness until the end of the 18th century, when numerous errors and fabrications contained in it were recognized.
Wenceslaus Hajek
Josef Rupert Maria Přecechtěl (1821 - 1897). Lithography probably by Roland Weibezahl (1817-1871), signed on sheet 2 of the same series, bottom left. · Čechoslovanští výtečníkové, page 1, digitized by National Library in Prague · Public domain
- Born
- 1500
- Died
- 1553
- Occupation
- historian · writer · priest · cleric
- Languages
- German · Latin
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Illustration — Ideal portrait (about 1861) Wenceslaus Hájek of Libočany (Václav Hájek z Libočan, Wenzeslaus Hagek von Libotschan, Wenceslaus Hagecius, Wenceslaus Hagek a Liboczan; late 15th century – 18 March 1553) was a Bohemian chronicler. He was author of famous Bohemian Chronicle (1541), also called the Hájek's Chronicle. This work served as the main source of Czech historical and national consciousness until the end of the 18th century, when numerous errors and fabrications contained in it were recognized.
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wikidata · Q2142789 · wikipedia · Wenceslaus Hajek
In this article
Life
Life
A scion of a noble family based in Libočany near Žatec, western Bohemia, Hajek was ordained priest of the Kostelec parish near Budyně nad Ohří in 1520. One year later, he became a chaplain in Zlonice. Hajek initially was a member of the Bohemian Unity of the Brethren but later converted to Catholicism. In 1524 he served as a preacher at the St. Thomas' Church in Prague quarter Malá Strana (Lesser Town); from 1527 as a dean of Karlštejn Castle and a priest in Tetín. In May 1533, he was appointed royal administrator of the Vyšehrad Chapter. Hájek reached the peak of ecclesiastical career when he became provost of Stará Boleslav Chapter, however, he fell from grace shortly afterwards and retired to Prague.
Works
Works
His famous Bohemian Chronicle (Kronika česká in original), written in old humanistic Czech, cover the history of the Czech lands from the legendary early medieval rulers Lech, Czech, and Rus up to the coronation of King Ferdinand I in 1526. It was translated into German by Johann Sandel (1596), and later extensively studied by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). Long considered one of the best sources of Czech history, modern criticism has found it to be quite inaccurate, although still useful for information about Czech literature traditions of the time.
Catalogued output
Publications and editions
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. Recorded with the occupation historian. Recorded with the occupation writer. It is also recorded that wenceslaus Hajek is recorded with the occupation Catholic priest. It is also recorded that wenceslaus Hajek is recorded with the occupation chronicler. The record continues: wenceslaus Hajek is recorded with the occupation parson. Recorded with the occupation priest. Recorded as a citizen of Lands of the Bohemian Crown. It is also recorded that wenceslaus Hajek is recorded with the gender male. Born on 1 January 1500. It is also recorded that wenceslaus Hajek died on 18 March 1553.
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2142789: Wenceslaus Hajek
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Wenceslaus Hajek”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2142789: Wenceslaus HajekWikimedia Foundation
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
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This entry is compiled from 2 catalogued sources across 2 independent registers. The registers consulted are Wikipedia and Wikimedia Foundation. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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