Kratonohy : Czech Republic

Kratonohy is small village in the Czech Republic, in Hradec Kralove Region, lying on state road from Prague to Hradec Králové, cca 15 kilometers beyond Chlumec nad Cidlinou. Village part named Michnovka is located cca 2 km southly in direction to Pardubice. Kratonohy is member of village alliance Mikroregion Urbanická brázda. Population of village: cca 550 people.
History
First written references: 1316 – Cratonoch, 1321 – Cratonoh, 1352 – Krathonoh, 1369 – Cratonoh, 1386 – Crathonoh, 1409 – Kratonozie, 1498 – Kratonohy
Kratonohy was founded (in accordance to a fable) by Býd, the son of count Slavomil of Kouřim at the place where he rest with his people for three days. The folk etymology meant that principle for name of village – the walk of bored people was shortened and with transferred meaning their legs too. The purpose of this etymologic name explanation was replacement of the source of ironical nickname of some village people: kraťnožka or kraťnoha (English: Person with short legs). The ironical name is quite old, this name type of new founded villages is assumed that appearanced in 11th and 12th century.
Village had unnoticed ownership relations. In years 1318 – 1323 the village was hold by TluÄ?ek, BohunÄ›k, Licek, Mikuláš and Sezema from Kratonohy. In the 14th century probably a citadel existed here, but the oldest written record about the citadel comes from the 16th century. In the second part of 14th century are mentioned here Lords of ÄŒastolovice, Licek from Kratonohy and Perchta, daughter of Sezema from Kostomlaty. Perchta made donation of some estates to St. George Monastery in Prague. In years 1407 – 1467 there were Hroch from DobÅ™enice and brothers Jiří and Adam DobÅ™enský. In year 1447 depredated here HaÅ¡ek from Wallenstein; maybe the citadel was damaged.
From the river Bystřice was raised the flume in 1452, that provided Třesický rybník (English: Lake of Tresice) with water. In the year 1467 has Kratonohy been held also by brothers Jiří and Bavor from Mokrovousy and from the end of 15th century to Battle of White Mountain by Dobřenský lineage. One of them was hejtman of Hradec Králové land, Václav Dobřenský from Dobřenice (died 1608). In 16th century was founded Trmalovský dvůr (Trmalov manor-house or Trmálka).
In the year 1623 was Kratonohy bought for 20800 units of Míšeňská kopa (currency) by Alžběta Vchynská from Vchynice and Chlumec. The homestead has been held by Kinský lineage to 1644, but due to mortgages they sell it to Asterles from Asterfeld.
During 17th century the citadel died way. Village devolved to Brysl’s lineage. Barbora, widow after František Brysl (died 1692), sold Kratonohy to her brother Václav Michna from Vacínov in the year 1701. He built the new church in 1710 and reconstructed the vicarage. Václav Michna sold village again to Václav Norbert Kinský, his competitor in the feud about a flume. Sometimes after these times was build small castle at the place of former citadel. An author could be Giovanni Santini, but more likely it was somebody from his successors.
In Kratonohy was also lineage of folk poets – Volný. The first was Lukáš Volný (1645 – 1732), the second Václav Volný. Last one was Jiří Volný (1675 – 1745), bailiff and head sheep-master, that made up frolic melodies. Most of these melodies were destroyed by wildfire in 1750, but remaining were issued by Hanka in Hradec Králové with name Jiřího Volného písně veselé (English: Frolic melodies by Jiří Volný) in the year 1822.
At beginning of 18th century was instituted parish school there.
During Kinský times the village with the castle remain in shadow of Chlumec residence Karlova Koruna and in the second part of 18th century Kratonohy merged with Chlumec manor. From 1772 worked an authoritarian Matyáš Graulich as trustee here. When peasant revolt started on 24th March 1775 also in Kratonohy, Graulich fled away. After revolt the castle was repaired and rebuilt and remain in Kinský ownership until the 20th century.
In 1835 is a brickkiln alluded in Kratonohy. In 1841 polygonal barn, brewery, still-house, forester’s lodge and mill existed here. New elementary school was built in 1870 – 1878.
Part of the castle and homestead was restituted after Velvet revolution.
Michnovka
First written references: 1720 – Michnowitz, 1790 – Michnowitz, 1835 – Michnowka, 1877 – Michňovka.
Cultural relics
The gate of the homestead – built after the year 1720 by Giovanni Santini or his descendants. Now the part of agricultural company areal and was insensitively modified. St. George Church – gothic based, baroquized in 1707 – 1710. Inwrought interior with an unusual solution: the altair made as grotto and the rostrum as whale. The altair is reproduction of a spanish altair of St. George from Compostela. The wife of manor owner Jan Adam Michna from Vacínov was Spaniard, so it is supossed that interior is work of spanish artists. Is it one of most impressive church interiors in Czech Republic.
Famous people
Petr Kostka, actor – lived and studied elementary school here
Jaroslav Čihák, major general – born here
Rudolf Medek, writer – taught at elementary school here before World War