In the shadow of Prague Castle? The earliest history of Vysehrad Castle (c.950-1070)

There is no doubt that from the beginnings of the early Czech state, Prague Castle has constituted the state's main political, residential and ceremonial centre. After the mid-tenth century, however, another castle in its vicinity was founded at Vysehrad. Surprisingly, the twelfth-century reports portray the latter castle as a location of residential and political significance comparable to the former. Such a situation has no parallel in the continental Europe of that period. Based on an investigation of archaeological and written sources, this article argues that Vysehrad is likely to have acquired such a position shortly after its foundation and that since the very beginnings, it functioned as a kind of shadow ruling centre used in particular by those members of the ruling dynasty who challenged the actual power constellations or even the traditional political conventions.