Transregional Territories. Crossing Borders in the Time of Ferdinand I

On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the establishment of the Habsburg Monarchy in Central Europe, founded in 1526 by Ferdinand I, the Institute of History at the Faculty of Arts of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, and the Institute of Historical Sciences at the Faculty of Arts, University of Pardubice, will host an international scholarly conference entitled Transregional Territories – Crossing Borders in the Time of Ferdinand I / Transregionale Territorien – Grenzüberschreitungen in der Zeit Ferdinands I., to be held on 8–9 September 2026 at the Congress Centre of the Český Krumlov State Castle.

The conference aims to explore the ways in which cross-border movements of people and ideas helped shape the structure and character of the Central European monarchy ruled by Ferdinand I. His reign was marked by efforts to consolidate Catholic faith, centralize political authority, and defend against the Ottoman threat. By adopting a methodological approach inspired by the pioneering works of Robert J. W. Evans, Alfred Kohler, Ernst Laubach, Claude Michaud, Paula Sutter-Fichtner, and the catalogue of a Viennese exhibition edited by Wilfried Seipel, the conference seeks to offer a less conventional perspective on Ferdinand I’s rule. The working languages of the conference are German and English:

TRANSREGIONAL TERRITORIES. CROSSING BORDERS IN THE TIME OF FERDINAND I

TRANSREGIONALE TERRITORIEN. GRENZÜBERSCHREITUNGEN IN DER ZEIT FERDINANDS I.

8 SEPTEMBER 2026

9.30–10.00 Opening and Welcome

Keynote

10.00–10.30

• Violet Soen (Leuven): The Central European Monarchy and Low Countries under Ferdinand I and Charles V

I. POLITICAL, MILITARY AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY

Section Chairs: Tomáš Sterneck (České Budějovice, Praha), Lothar Höbelt (Pardubice, Wien)

10.30–10.55

• Ronald G. Asch (Freiburg im Breisgau): Imperiales Königtum in England. Neue Souveränitätskonzepte, administrative Zentralisierung und transregionale Herrschaft in der Tudor Monarchie im frühen 16. Jahrhundert

10.55–11.20

• José Eloy Hortal Muñoz (Madrid): Reality or Myth: The Reception of the Burgundian Ceremonial and Courtly Structure at the Habsburgs Courts during the 16th Century

11.20–11.35 Discussion

11.35–12.00 Break

12.00–12.25

• Elena Taddei (Innsbruck): Emperor Ferdinand I’s Cultural Contacts with the Princes of Northern Italy

12.25–12.50

• František Schwarz (České Budějovice, Paris): Crossing Borders by Marriage. The Marriages of Ferdinand I’s Daughters and Transregional Cultural Exchange

12.50–13.15

• Václav Bůžek (České Budějovice): Der Oberstkanzler des Königreichs Böhmen Joachim von Neuhaus zwischen Land, Hof und Reich in der Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts

13.15–13.30 Discussion

13.45–15.30 Lunch

15.30–15.55

• Kateřina Pražáková (České Budějovice): The Wettin Intelligence Networks in the Schmalkaldic War

15.55–16.20

• Vítězslav Prchal (Pardubice): Ferdinand I and the Integration Efforts of Military Logistics during the Reign of the First Habsburgs on the Bohemian Throne

16.20–16.45

• Josef Hrdlička (České Budějovice): Reformation ohne Grenzen? Entstehung und Gestaltung des religiösen Wandels in der Habsburgermonarchie unter Ferdinand I.

16.45–17.10

• Rostislav Smíšek (České Budějovice): Ferdinand I in the Political Thought of Central European Baroque Nobility

17.10–17.30 Discussion

18.30

Concert at the Castle: Music at the Court of Ferdinand I (music ensemble Dyškanti lead by Martin Horyna)

Dinner

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9 SEPTEMBER 2026

II. ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL HISTORY

Section Chair: Blanka Kubíková (Praha)

9.00–9.25

• Petr Vorel (Pardubice): Attempts at Monetary Integration of Central Europe in the Time of Ferdinand I

9.25–9.50

• Stefan Hanß (Manchester): Hair Literacy, the Global Imaginary, and Habsburg Ideology, c. 1500–1565

9.50–10.15

• Barnabás Guitman (Budapest): Gegenseitige kulturelle Einflüsse in der christlichen und osmanischen Armee auf dem ungarischen Schlachtfeld in der Zeit Ferdinands I.

10.15–10.40

• Pavel Marek (Pardubice): Ritterorden der hispanischen Welt in der mitteleuropäischen Monarchie Ferdinands I.

10.40–10.55 Discussion

10.55–11.30 Break

11.30–11.55

• Jakub Kalivoda (České Budějovice): Hungarian Coaches and Spanish Stallions at the Courts of Ferdinand I and his Sons

11.55–12.20

• Sylva Dobalová (Praha): Flowers for the King and Queen: Ferdinand I, Anna, and the Rise of Renaissance Court Horticulture

12.20–12.45

• Renate Leggatt-Hofer (Wien): The Residences of Ferdinand I in Vienna and Prague as Hubs of International Cultural Exchange: Manifestation of Dynastic Power and Imperial Politics in Architecture

12.45–13.10

• Elisabeth Reitter (Ambras): Grenzübertritt auf Einladung. Offizielle Mobilisierungsstrategien zur Anwerbung von Künstlern und Handwerkern unter Ferdinand II. (mit Vergleichen zu Ferdinand I.)

13.10–13.30 Discussion

13.30 Closing Meeting

14.00–15.30 Lunch

16.00

Tour of the Castle Český Krumlov and Baroque Theatre

Scientific supervision of the conference

Conference logistics

Kommunikation und Fachinformation für die Geschichtswissenschaften

• Transregional Territories. Crossing Borders in the Time of Ferdinand I – program
• Transregional Territories. Crossing Borders in the Time of Ferdinand I – poster