# The Conversion of St. Vladimir/Preface

KAREL HAVLIČEK
Preface
Karel Havlicek was born in Borova, Bohemia, a parish of about one thousand inhabitants, October 31, 1821. He came from a devout Catholic family and was destined for the priesthood, but forsook it to take up journalism. Throughout his career he waged war on Clericalism and its influence on the policies and politics of the State.
The most illustrious and eminent Czechoslovak of today, Professor Thomas G. Masaryk, at present the first President of the new Republic of Czechoslovakia, has written an exhaustive book and a biography on Karel Havlicek and his literary and political activities, in which he characterizes him as one of the foremost patriots in the cause of the liberation of the Bohemian—in fact of all Slavic—peoples, which through the persistence of the Czech and Slovak diplomats and statesmen, and with the aid of former President Wilson, culminated in the emancipation and the foundation of one of the most progressive, most prosperous and best governed republics of Central Europe.
The translator has taken advantage of the kind permission of His Excellency, President Masaryk, to use excerpts of his book, as well as those from some of his other books, and lectures which he delivered in 1907 during his stay in the United States. In this preface, for which consent the translator is appreciative, President Masaryk emphasizes how much satisfaction it gave him to speak and write about Havlicek who, according to Professor Masaryk, was Bohemia's first political leader and idealist of his day. Very frequently he recalled to himself and to others how much he learned from the poet. Havlicek’s political aims and hopes were:
Liberal-mindedness, sane and honest politics, faith in progress and democracy, belief in political betterment, universal education, social reform and advancement of the masses. All of this had to be preceded by a revolution of the mind and the hearts of the people—since he believed in revolutionizing Bohemian thought by education rather than by force.
​It is the opinion of Masaryk that Havlicek’s epic poem, “The Conversion of St. Vladimir,” was a rather radical exhibit of politico-religious satire, more bitter than some of his other writings.
Havlicek was not opposed to true religion. On the contrary, he saw a close relationship between religion and politics. But he differentiated greatly between religious creeds and the true religion of his own understanding, and attempted to uphold religious reform in its administration and not touching upon its dogmatic doctrines. According to Masaryk’s ideas, “The Conversion of St. Vladimir” as well as the “Epistles from Kutna Hora” are directed against the combination of religious absolutism with political rule, which Havlicek opposed very strenuously in all his activities.
“The Conversion of St. Vladimir” is a blasphemy (Masaryk declares) in which Havlicek, as poet, showed himself more radical than he ever did as journalist or politician, either in politics or religion. He has repeatedly explained why Havlicek indulged in this irreverence and sacrilege. He sees in it a basis of a catholicism which Havlicek has outgrown and the course of which, in his day, was more provocative to negation than protestantism.
It was he who founded Bohemian journalism—at a time when it was treason to spread news, literature or other propaganda in behalf of freedom and liberation of his countrymen. He was one of that band of staunch ’48-ters—those patriots who threw caution to the winds to fight an unequal battle for democracy against the military despotism of the ruling monarchs.
His essays, letters, editorial articles and poems were widely read by the masses, since the language he employed, as seen in this epic poem, was that of the masses.
Bohemian literature, to which he added a goodly share, was then only in its inception, though it ranks today on a level with that of most of the civilized nations.
His influence in the field of journalism was a thorn in the side of the body politic of the Habsburg dynasty; so ​much so, that the Austrian imperial satraps took him into custody and secretly, at midnight (December 16, 1851) tore him mercilessly from his family, and, without trial, sent him to the military prison at Brixen, in southern Austria, where these verses were written. There he languished for more than three years and contracted a serious illness. On that account he was liberated in April, 1855, on condition he refrain from writing about, or participating in, political activities.
Only after his arrival at home was he informed of the death of his beloved wife who, during their separation, lived with her daughter, depending upon the bounty of their loyal friends for four years. This tragedy, added to the suffering and privations of prison life, played havoc with his health and his state of mind to such an extent that he survived her a little more than a year, leaving an orphaned daughter and a sad, mourning nation.
In his youth and before he launched upon his journalistic career Havlicek was tutor to the children of a Russian prince. There he familiarized himself with the material for this poem which is based on the history of the foundation of Christianity in Russia as depicted in the “Chronicles” of Nestor, a Russian monk and historian (1056–1114). It is to be regretted that his grief over the loss of his mate in addition to his serious condition, prevented him from finishing this scathing epic masterpiece, since it seems that it has not been completed, as the actual conversion according to the title of this satire, had not as yet taken place at the end of the poem.
Havlicek, before his incarceration, was promised political favor if he would desist from his “insiduous propaganda.” He was commanded and threatened, but he adopted as his political creed the following motto:
“You may promise me— You may command me— You may threaten me— Yet I shall not a traitor be!”