BRUNN (Czech Brno)

This article appears in Volume V04, Page 685 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: BRI-BUN

BRUNN (Czech Brno) , the

capital

CAPITAL (i.e. capital stock or fund)
CAPITAL (Lat. caput, head)

of the Austrian margraviate and crownland of Moravia, 89 m. N. of Vienna by rail. Pop. (1900) 108,944, of whom 70% are Germans and 30% are Czechs. Briinn is situated for the most part between two hills at the confluence of the Schwarzawa and the Zwittawa, and consists of
the old town and extensive suburbs. On one of the hills, known as the Spielberg (945 ft.), stands a castle which has long been used as a prison, famous for its connexion with Silvio Pellico, who was confined within its walls from 1822 to 1830. The fortifications of the old town have now been entirely removed, giving place to handsome gardens and well-built streets, which put it in communication with its adjoining suburbs. The old town, although comparatively small, with narrow and crooked but well-paved streets, contains the most important buildings in the city. The Rathaus, which dates from 1511, has a fine Gothic portal, and contains several interesting antiquities. The ecclesiastical buildings comprise the cathedral of St Peter, situated on the lower hill; the fine Gothic church of St Jacob, built in the 15th century, with its iron tower added in 1845, and a remarkable collection of early prints; the church of the Augustinian friars, dating from the 14th century; and that of the Minorites, with its frescoes, its holy stair and its Loretto-

house

. Amongst the new buildings are the

hall

of the provincial diet, opened in 1881; a handsome new

synagogue

SYNAGOGUE (avvaywyii)
SYNAGOGUE, UNITED

; the national museum of Moravia and Silesia and several high educational establishments, including a technical academy and a theological seminary, which are the remnants of the former university of Brunn. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop and of a Protestant consistory. Brunn, which is sometimes styled "the Austrian Manchester," is one of the most industrial towns of Austria and the

chief

CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

seat of the cloth industry ill the whole empire. Other important branches of industry are: the manufacture of various woollen,

cotton

and silk goods, leather, the machinery required in the textile factories, brewing, distilling and milling, and the production of sugar, oil, gloves and hardware. It is also an important railway junction and carries on a very active trade.
Brunn probably dates from the 9th century. In the 11th century it was bestowed by Duke Wratislas II. on his son Otto. A place of great strength, it held out successfully against sieges in 1428 by the Hussites, in 1467 by King George of Bohemia, in 1645 by the Swedish general Torstenson, and in 1742 by the Prussians. In 1805 it was the headquarters of

Napoleon

NAPOLEON

before the battle of Austerlitz.
See Trautenberger, Die Chronik der Landeshauptstadt Brunn (Minn, 18931897, 5 vols.).

End of Article: BRUNN (Czech Brno)

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/BRI_BUN/BRUNN_Czech_Brno_.html">
BRUNN (Czech Brno)
</a>

(Previous)
BRUNI, LEONARDO (1369-1444)

(Next)
BRUNNER, HENRY (184o )

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email