Editing Prague (section)

===Early history===
[[File:Josef Mathauser - Kněžna Libuše věští slávu Prahy.jpg|thumb|The mythological princess [[Libuše]] prophesies the glory of Prague]]
The region was settled as early as the [[Paleolithic]] age.<ref name="Demetz1997" /> Jewish chronicler [[David Gans|David Solomon Ganz]], citing [[Cyriacus Spangenberg]], claimed that the city was founded as Boihaem in {{Circa|1306}} [[Anno Domini|BC]] by an ancient king, Boyya.<ref name=ganz />

Around the fifth and fourth century BC, a [[Celts|Celtic]] tribe appeared in the area, later establishing settlements, including the largest Celtic [[oppidum]] in [[Bohemia]], Závist, in a present-day south suburb [[Zbraslav]] in Prague, and naming the region of Bohemia, which means "home of the Boii people".<ref name="Demetz1997">{{cite book |last=Demetz |first=Peter|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/pragueinblackgol00deme |title=Prague in Black and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City |publisher=Hill and Wang |location=New York |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-8090-7843-1 |chapter=Chapter One: Libussa, or Versions of Origin |access-date=7 April 2016|chapter-url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="bohemiaradio">{{cite web |url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/unearthing-bohemias-celtic-heritage-ahead-of-samhain-the-new-year |title=Unearthing Bohemia's Celtic heritage ahead of Samhain, the 'New Year' |last=Kenety |first=Brian |date=29 October 2004 |publisher=Czech Radio |access-date=9 August 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810140803/http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/unearthing-bohemias-celtic-heritage-ahead-of-samhain-the-new-year |url-status=live}}</ref> In the last century BC, the Celts were slowly driven away by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]] ([[Marcomanni]], [[Quadi]], [[Lombards]] and possibly the [[Suebi]]), leading some to place the seat of the [[Marcomanni]] king, [[Maroboduus]], in Závist.<ref name="marobudradio">{{cite web |url=http://www.rozhlas.cz/leonardo/historie/_zprava/202797 |title=Atlantis české archeologie |last=Kenety |first=Brian |date=19 November 2005 |publisher=Czech Radio |language=cs |access-date=9 August 2016 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913181056/http://www.rozhlas.cz/leonardo/historie/_zprava/202797 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ganz">Dovid Solomon Ganz, Tzemach Dovid (3rd edition), part 2, Warsaw 1878, pp. 71, 85 ([https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=21930&st=&pgnum=72&hilite=available online] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421152851/https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=21930&st=&pgnum=72&hilite=available |date=21 April 2022}})</ref> Around the area where present-day Prague stands, the 2nd century map drawn by Roman geographer [[Ptolemy|Ptolemaios]] mentioned a Germanic city called ''Casurgis''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cs-magazin.com/index.php?a=a2011021048 |title=Praha byla Casurgis |trans-title=Prague was Casurgis |language=cs |publisher=cs-magazin.com |date=February 2011 |access-date=7 April 2016 |archive-date=13 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413175204/http://www.cs-magazin.com/index.php?a=a2011021048 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the late 5th century AD, during the great [[Migration Period]] following the collapse of the [[Western Roman Empire]], the Germanic tribes living in Bohemia moved westwards and, probably in the 6th century, the [[West Slavs|Slavic tribes]] settled the Central Bohemian Region. In the following three centuries, the [[Czechs|Czech tribes]] built several fortified settlements in the area, most notably in the [[Divoká Šárka|Šárka valley]], [[Jinonice|Butovice]] and [[Levý Hradec]].<ref name="Demetz1997" />
[[File:Maqueta del castell de praga.JPG|thumb|left|upright|A model representing [[Prague Castle]] and its surroundings in the 10th century]]

The construction of what came to be known as [[Prague Castle]] began near the end of the 9th century, expanding a fortified settlement that had existed on the site since the year 800.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novinky.cz/kultura/24807-slovane-na-hrade-zili-uz-sto-let-pred-borivojem.html |title=Slované na Hradě žili už sto let před Bořivojem&nbsp;– |publisher=[[Novinky.cz]] |access-date=14 April 2011 |archive-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405080130/http://www.novinky.cz/kultura/24807-slovane-na-hrade-zili-uz-sto-let-pred-borivojem.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The first masonry under Prague Castle dates from the year 885 at the latest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/history/archaeological-research.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401033615/http://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/history/archaeological-research.shtml |archive-date=1 April 2009 |title=Archaeological Research&nbsp;– Prague Castle |publisher=Hrad.cz |date=8 July 2005 |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The other prominent Prague fort, the Přemyslid fort [[Vyšehrad]], was founded in the 10th century, some 70 years later than Prague Castle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/visit/monuments/top-monuments/65-vysehrad.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312091714/http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/visit/monuments/top-monuments/65-vysehrad.shtml |archive-date=12 March 2013 |title=TOP MONUMENTS – VYŠEHRAD |publisher=praguewelcome.cz |access-date=14 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Prague Castle is dominated by the [[St. Vitus Cathedral|cathedral]], which began construction in 1344, but was not completed until the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/gothic-buildings-prague |title=5 of the Best Gothic Buildings in Prague|work=Architectural Digest |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210649/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/gothic-buildings-prague |url-status=live}}</ref>

The legendary origins of Prague attribute its foundation to the 8th-century Czech duchess and prophetess [[Libuše]] and her husband, [[Přemysl, the Ploughman|Přemysl]], founder of the [[Přemyslid dynasty]]. Legend says that Libuše, prophesied from her castle at Vyšehrad, came out on a rocky cliff high above the Vltava and prophesied: "I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars". She ordered a castle and a town called Praha to be built on the site.<ref name="Demetz1997" />

The region became the seat of the [[duke]]s, and later [[King of Bohemia|kings of Bohemia]]. Under Duke of Bohemia [[Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia|Boleslaus II the Pious]] the area became a [[Diocese|bishopric]] in 973.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FeFACISbhCgC&q=archbishopric&pg=PA115 |title=Hastening Toward Prague: Power and Society in the Medieval Czech Lands |last=Wolverton |first=Lisa |date=9 October 2012 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0812204223 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410180614/https://books.google.com/books?id=FeFACISbhCgC&q=archbishopric&pg=PA115 |url-status=live}}</ref> Until Prague was elevated to [[archbishopric]] in 1344, it was under the jurisdiction of the [[Archbishopric of Mainz]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.radio.cz/en/section/travel-tip/prague-an-architectural-gem-in-the-heart-of-europe |title=Prague – an architectural gem in the heart of Europe {{!}} Radio Prague |work=Radio Praha |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724001258/http://radio.cz/en/section/travel-tip/prague-an-architectural-gem-in-the-heart-of-europe |url-status=live}}</ref>

Prague was an important seat for trading where merchants from across Europe settled, including many Jews, as recalled in 965 by the [[Al-Andalus|Hispano-Jewish]] merchant and traveler [[Abraham ben Jacob]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hx2xBWN3hX0C&q=Ibrahim+ibn+Ya%27qub+prague+jew+965&pg=PA8 |title=The Jews of Bohemia and Moravia: Facing the Holocaust |last=Rothkirchen |first=Livia |author-link=Livia Rothkirchen |date=1 January 2006 |publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0803205024 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410180614/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hx2xBWN3hX0C&q=Ibrahim+ibn+Ya%27qub+prague+jew+965&pg=PA8 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Old New Synagogue]] of 1270 still stands in the city. Prague was also once home to a [[Slavery|slave]] market.<ref>"''[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHRvtwTLcMAC&pg=PA417 The Cambridge Economic History of Europe: Trade and industry in the Middle Ages] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503104929/https://books.google.com/books?id=cHRvtwTLcMAC&pg=PA417&dq&hl=en |date=3 May 2016}}''". Michael Moïssey Postan, Edward Miller, Cynthia Postan (1987). [[Cambridge University Press]]. p. 417. {{ISBN|0-521-08709-0}}.</ref>

At the site of the ford in the Vltava river, King [[Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia|Vladislaus I]] had the first bridge built in 1170, the Judith Bridge (Juditin most), named in honor of his wife [[Judith of Thuringia]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.radio.cz/en/static/charles-bridge/history |title=History of Charles Bridge {{!}} Radio Prague |work=Radio Praha |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905164019/https://www.radio.cz/en/static/charles-bridge/history |url-status=live}}</ref> This bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1342, but some of the original foundation stones of that bridge remain in the river. It was rebuilt and named the Charles Bridge.<ref name=":0" />

In 1257, under King [[Ottokar II of Bohemia|Ottokar II]], [[Malá Strana]] ("Lesser Quarter") was founded in Prague on the site of an older village in what would become the [[Hradčany]] (Prague Castle) area.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhkCBQAAQBAJ&q=king+ottokar+Mal%C3%A1+Strana+1257&pg=PT337 |title=The Rough Guide to Prague |last=Guides |first=Rough |date=16 January 2015 |publisher=Rough Guides UK |isbn=9780241196311 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407215756/https://books.google.com/books?id=UhkCBQAAQBAJ&q=king+ottokar+Mal%C3%A1+Strana+1257&pg=PT337 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was the district of the German people, who had the right to administer the law autonomously, pursuant to [[Magdeburg rights]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bBFwIGv2qMEC&q=Magdeburg+rights+Mal%C3%A1+Strana&pg=PA196 |title=The West European City: A Geographical Interpretation |last=Dickinson |first=Robert E. |author-link=Robert E. Dickinson |date=2003 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780415177115 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407160748/https://books.google.com/books?id=bBFwIGv2qMEC&q=Magdeburg+rights+Mal%C3%A1+Strana&pg=PA196 |url-status=live}}</ref> The new district was on the bank opposite of the [[Old Town (Prague)|Staré Město]] ("Old Town"), which had [[borough]] status and was bordered by a line of walls and fortifications.