Evening star., 1938-10-02
REMADE map of Europe

N one of our heritages from the
~ World War On that map
4 a appeared the name of Czecho-
slovakia. Many, no doubt, then won-
dered whence came this state. True
1t was that the name was new, but
the areas which went to make up
this country had had long histories
and had found themselves in political
relation often before. As they remade
the map of Europe. as they brought
together geographical areas inhabited
by peoples racially akin. the peace
makers after the World War saw sub
stantially the picture that is being
laid before you now. The record of
a thousand years of history, of rich
culture and of great tradition seemed
spiritual heritage enough with which
to endow new state. At the same
time that thousand years of history
should have warned those peacemakers
OF the pitfall that awaited the new
state. That same history furnished
the only true chart the statesmen of
Czechoslovakia could follow in mapping
the future course of their country.
Look at map of the medieval
empire, that Holy Roman Empire
which historians have so often de-
scribed as neither holy nor Roman
Such a map you have before you.
(See map No. u. 1t must suggest
two things to you. the geographical
position of Bohemia, for that is the
name under which the greater part
of Western Czechoslovakia figures in
history, with reference to the great
traditionally German areas, and, in
the second place, territorial extent
Of German empire not too different
from that of German ambition today.
Had Empire in Ninth Century.
As Americans we talk often of our
frontiers, too. Look on your map and
frontiers too. Look on your map and
there you see frontier, for Western
Bohemia was the extreme frontier
of the Slavs. Hemmed in by their
mountains. the Bohemians occupied
a wedge driven into the eastern from
tier of the German lands. There,
dV olldg WSust, was d CllllCdl pOllll
where German and Slav met.
We have called the Bohemians, or
the Czechs, Slavs, and so they are
predominantly, for the Slavs entered
an area which they dominated though
other and earlier racial elements were
there present. Protected by their
mountains and fortified by their early
conversion to Christianity, Of the
western Slavs the Czechs became
the strongest. With their German
neighbors they were in incessant con-
hict and time after time their terri
tories were invaded. In the early 10th
century. Venceslas, Duke Of Bohemia
and the patron saint of the country,
became vassal of the Germans to
save his land from the continuous
assaults that had harassed them.
But Bohemia was but the western
part Of modern Czechoslovakia. Dur
ing this time the Slavs of Moravia and
Slovakia were forming Moravian en-
pire. In the ninth century Slav mis-
sionaries had labored among them
and converted them to Christianity
and at the same time encouraged the
development of their culture as Slavs.
Tha Moravian Empire reached its
height in the late ninth century. You
notice 1t does not appear as a political
unit on the map. Already it had fallen
before the invading Magyars and with
. single interruption Slovakia re-
manned incorporated within the Hun
garian state for thousand years.
Henceforth Bohemia, the land Of the
Czechs, became the center of Czecho-
slovak history. Slovakia continued to
play a dismal role as part Of Hun
gary as Bohemia moved toward greater
and greater Importance. Toward the
end OF the 11th century her duke re-
ceived the title of king and around
Bohemia as core new Slav empire
began to form. In the 18th century
1t was a great power. Bohemia's king
held also the throne of Poland and
got for his son the crown Of Hungary.
In 1903 died the last member of the
royal family which had done so much
for Bohemia. and two years later John
Of Luxembourg, son of the German
Emperor, was elected king and married
to the 14-year-old sister of his prede-
cessor.
First University in Germany at Prague.
This John of Luxembourg was an in
teresting, typical product of chivalry;
he was at the service of any cause
that appealed to him. Blinded, he still
fought on and died, fighting for the
French against the English at Crecy.
His son, Charles w, has been called
father Of Bohemia and stepfather of
the empire" Though German Emperor,
he was, first above all, King OF Bo-
hemia, turning the imperial resources