On the beginnings of the town of Ústí nad Labem, or the castles of Ústí

Abstract

The aim of the article is to revise and supplement the existing archaeological and historical building research view of the beginning of the town of Ústí nad Labem, Northern Bohemia. The royal town with an important position on the Elbe River and near the border was established before the middle of the 13th century in connection with the local early medieval settlement documented by written sources and archaeological finds. However, the existing evaluation is burdened by numerous assumptions and unsubstantiated assertions that have been passed down and hyperbolized in the literature despite inadequate documentation. This in particular concerns issues regarding the local castles, both early and high medieval. The existence of neither one has been proven: the presentation of the alleged find situations is wanting and raises serious doubts. In the absence of additional archaeological evidence, the form and scope of medieval settlement at the Ústí site remain unclear. The article also presents new findings and possibilities for evaluating nearby Střekov Castle, whose close connection with the beginnings of the high medieval town cannot be ruled out.