Blanik


			Czech Encyclopedia list the family as being "Ancient Knights of Bohemia" from the period before the year 1212.

			A reference book on genealogy from the year 1900 lists the family's origin as being from the ancient House of Vlastislavici that ruled the area southeast of Prague from the years 1000 to 1200.

				In 1303 the family acquired the land at Vlasim and Hynek built a Fortified Chateau at Vlasim in 1318. After this time the family name with title was Jankovsti z Vlasimi. The records show that the family came from Blaniku.

			Blanik is a mountain with twin peaks of Maly and Velky. It is approx. 6 miles south of Vlasim and 2 miles from both of the small villages of Pravonin and Jankov.

		Blanik today is a public preserve which was created by Emperor Josef II in 1783. This site contains archeological ruins of an ancient Celtic settlement and place of worship. This ancient tribe was called the Boii. From this tribe the name Bohemia is derived.

After the year 300AD the Germans came from the north and the Boii were absorbed into the German population. Likewise in the 700's the Slavs came from the east and the local lands absorbed into the Greater Moravian Empire. Part of this Empire later became the Kingdom of Bohemia.

	On the top of Velky Blanik is also the archeological remains of an ancient wooden Fortress. In Medieval Times, Velky Blanik was said to be the meeting place for the "Knights of Blanikum". There are many legends in regards to the Knights. .

	In 1189 Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa initiated the 3rd Crusades which ended in 1204. From near this area the knights began the journey to the Holy Land as part of the great Crusades.


	In the 1100's and 1200's, the families of Vlastislavici a Janovici established Churches at Pod Blanikem, Jankov, Kondrac and Pravonin all within a few miles of Velky Blanik.




	Ancient Romanesque Churches - above, at Kondrac from about the year 1200 and at Liboun Pod Blanikem from the year 1149.. below, Churches of St. John at Pravonin and at Jankov from the early 1200's


	In 1212 Ottokar Premysl I established the Empire of Bohemia. Beginning in 1213, history records, that he granted privileges i.e. land & titles to his loyal Knights.

Some documentation appears to indicate that the family's origin was from the Knights of Johann, German knights, who settled in Bohemia in 1190 by request of King Ottokar Premsyslid and then served in the Great Crusades. The family was given land near the river Sazava, east of Blanik. The family of Johann was honored by the King Vaclav I in 1242 with the Castle of Polna. Records indicate that family of Jan von Polna owned land at Kamenici, a Castle at Doubravice and two villages that were named Jankov.




		old section of Castle Polna - 1242

In the late 1200's the family was given the Coat of Arms of the Black Eagle and the name / title "Jankovsti"

The family ruled the area in the late 1200's as the "Lords of Jankova". The family owned a Fort at Jankov and owned the villages of Kunraci and Vracovici north east of Velky Blanik in addition to acquiring Vlasim.


	The Black Eagle of the Lords

		*von Chrenovskych*


	During this time period members of the family also ruled an area 20 miles southeast of Vlasim near the river Sazava. The land included the villages of Dobra Voda, Veznem, Pertoltic and Chrenovici.




		remains of Castle at Chrenovice 1289-1318


	In the late 1300's, Jan who was then the Cardinal of Prague authorized the building of a monastery on the property at Blanik. The Monastery on Maly Blanik remained open until 1753.

		In 1420 a battle was fought at Maly Blanik. The battle was called the Battle of Pod Blanikem and was fought between warring Royalty of Bohemia. The family supported the Catholic position in the wars from 1420 through 1648.

In regards to the small village of Jankov .. Jankov means "John's Family" .. with Jankovsky meaning "John's Family's Land" .. Flowing through the village is the river of Jankovsky Potok.


		Within one mile of Jankov are two small settlements .. Jankovska Lhota and the settlement of Otradovice. Otradovice was originally called Jankovske prior to Benes Jankovskym selling the land in 1385 to Venek z Otradovic. Otradovice was also a home of the famous Czech composer Adam Michna Von Otradovic.

	The village of Jankov is also the historic site of one of the greatest and bloodiest battles of the Thirty Year War. In 1645 the armies of Sweden and the Imperial armies of the Hapsburgs fought at the "Battle of Jankov".

The Battle destroyed the village.




	Historic Coat of Arms from the Village of Jankov .. also the Crown on the Jankovsky COA's..

The nearby village of Pravonin was the village the family lived in the 1800's. It was also a home of both composer Richard Wagner and later composer Gustav Mahler.

The family moved back to this area in the 1770's, I believe, from Skalice which is in the mountains of Moravia. This occurred after the loss of the Royal Properties to the Austrian relatives by order of Austrian Empress Marie Theresa.


	A Chateau at Pravonin was built by relatives, the Counts Caretto de Cavriani. The family may have stayed there in the late 1700's after losing the land in Southern Moravia. In 1832 the Chateau was the summer home of Richard Wagner.

In the early 1800's the family owned a home at Pravonin with the family listed with title "Zeman" ( the lowest order of German nobility i.e. esquire ). The family Jankovsky also owned another home near Budwies which was the home of relatives, the family of Matious Jankovsky.

Great, Great Grandfather John who lived 99 years, came to the US with cousins from Budwies, returned to Pravonin, sold his share of the family's land in this area and then returned back to the U.S. in 1891 with the balance of his family then coming in 1893. His father who lived 96 years remained.


	farming complex near Pravonin .. the family tried to re-claim land in Europe at time of WW I but was not successful.


	Map of the area of the original family lands


Jankovsky Potok

	Jankov


	The above is the recorded history .. the family did own land in the area from the 1200's into the 1900's .. but the origin and history of the family may go back as far as ??

Vlasim and the villages of Kondrac and Vracovice were transferred to family z Vlasimi z Jenstejna in 1363; they sold the lands in 1414.

The Villages near Jankovsky Potok, two miles west of Velky Blanik, were sold by Benes in 1385.

Velky Blanik was sold by Matej in years 1397 to 1402.

The Village and the Fort of Jankov were sold in 1418.

The Monastery at Maly Blanik was closed in 1753 and the property was incorporated into the Public Preserve of Blanik in 1783.

The mountains north of Pravonin were sold and incorporated into the Preserve in 1889.

The remaining family land near Pravonin was lost (i.e. claimed by others) at the time of WW I


	Vlasim