[CORONATION OF THE FIRST HABSBURG KING OF BOHEMIA] Der königklichen Durchleüchtigkait zu Beheim Ertzhertzog Ferdinandus &c. Unnd seiner Königklichen durchlewchtigkait Gemahels beschehene Königkliche Crönung zu Prag imm M. D. XXVII. Jar [The royal coronation of Archduke Ferdinand and his royal consort in Prague in the year 1527].

[Augsburg: Silvan Otmar, 1527]. Small quarto (19.2 × 15.5 cm). Modern half-vellum binding in the style of the period; [10] pp. First leaf expertly restored; leaves very slightly stained; small nick to final leaf; else about very good. Item #55434

Rare pamphlet describing the coronation celebrations of the first Habsburg on the Bohemian royal throne (except for the few months of rule by Rudolf I in 1306/07). Alongside this Augsburg edition, another equally rare version of the description appeared in Nuremberg in the same year, published by Hans Hergot with slightly differing orthography in the title. Also printed in Augsburg in the same year was a description of Ferdinand and his wife's journey from Vienna to Prague to attend the coronation celebrations.

Ferdinand, brother of the Spanish king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, became Archduke of Austria after the death of his grandfather Maximilian I and contractual agreements with his brother (which led to the division of Habsburg into a Spanish and Austrian line). Through his marriage to Mary of Burgundy, his grandfather had succeeded in winning the wealthy Netherlands for the Habsburgs. But this was only the beginning of the expansion of the Habsburg Empire through strategic marriage alliances. It is not without reason that Maximilian is credited with the saying: “Let others wage war, but you, happy Austria, marry; for what Mars gives to others, Venus gives to you.” He married the father of Charles and Ferdinand, Philip the Fair, to the sole heiress of Spain, who went down in history as Joanna the Mad, and Ferdinand to the sister of the childless King of Bohemia and Hungary. The negotiations for his marriage to Anna Jagiellon were prolonged over many years. After Anna's brother drowned in a stream while fleeing from a battlefield, Ferdinand was able to claim the crowns of Bohemia and Hungary. However, Bohemia was an elective monarchy at that time, so his claims had to be formally recognized by the estates of all five countries of the Bohemian Crown. Ferdinand's election finally took place in Prague Cathedral in the Chapel of St. Wenceslas. His coronation in Prague Cathedral laid the foundation for nearly four hundred years of Habsburg rule in Bohemia. Furthermore, the Bohemian throne was an important stepping stone to securing the Roman imperial crown, as the Bohemian ruler was also an electoral prince.

This text provides a detailed description of the ceremony, during which, among other things, the assembled crowd was asked before the coronation whether they wanted to accept Ferdinand as their king: “Then everyone shouted, yes, we want him.” Before Holy Mass “with choir, organs, trombones, cornets, and trumpets,” a Latin sermon was given. After the Gloria, Ferdinand stepped before the altar and, as is customary in priestly ordination, lay flat with his face to the ground for “a good while,” whereupon the bishops, abbots, and provosts sang the Litany of the Saints “for his royal majesty” and finally anointed him. He was then led into a tent (“tabernacle”) made of golden cloth. There, after the reading of the Epistle, the Archduke's habit was exchanged for a white, decorated alb, maniple, stole, and a golden pluvial “of the most beautiful kind.” Returning to the altar, the bishop performed the coronation and presented the scepter and orb. After singing the “Tedeum laudamus,” the crowned king was brought the Gospel book to the “royal chair” so that he could quietly read along with the passage from the Gospel that was sung by the bishop. In this way, the king was given the task that is usually performed by the priest when the deacon sings the Gospel. However, the text not only describes the coronation liturgy in detail, but also the extensive celebrations surrounding it. And the queen's coronation on the following day is described in just as much detail.

Silvan Otmar continued his father Johannes' printing press. Among the authors Otmar printed was the important preacher Geiler von Kaisersberg, but Otmar is best known for two editions of the first pre-Lutheran Bible translations (1507 and 1518). The woodcut artists who worked for the Otmar press included Hans Burgkmair, Hans Schäuffelin, and Daniel Hopffer. In fact, Burgkmair is said to have been introduced to woodcut printing by Johannes Otmar. Furthermore, Silvan Otmar became one of the most committed printers in southern Germany of the writings of Luther and his comrades-in-arms. (See ADB 24, pp. 548-551.)

VD16, K 1863.

As of January 2026, KVK, OCLC show only one holding in North America.

Price: €2,500.00

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