Přední klenot zemský - Větší zemský soud království českého v době rudolfínské – Starý Marek (2014)

The Higher Regional Court, established in the mid-13th century during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II, was for many centuries one of the most significant organs of public authority in the Czech Kingdom. It was not only the most prestigious and recognized judicial body, exclusively competent in disputes over land properties, but its competencies also extended into the administrative and political spheres. Its lay judges, among whom the highest regional officials traditionally held an honorary place, formed a narrower royal council and significantly influenced the fate of the entire Czech state. The regional court also fulfilled a norm-setting role, and through so-called general findings (whose significance was, however, at its peak in the early modern period), it could shape the nature of noble law. It is therefore paradoxical that Czech legal history has not yet paid attention to this key institution. The presented book attempts to fill this gap to some extent, summarizing existing knowledge about the origin, competencies, and composition of the regional court based on archival research and mapping its personnel composition in the time of Emperor Rudolf II in detail.