and a good 'force' it was :-) thanks again Karen for the excellent info! ~Pam Frierdich-Staley~ Warrenton, MO http://www.michael-steppig-family-tree.com http://www.frierdich-staley-familytree.com Looking for surnames of MICHALEK (MICHAEL/EAL), DILLON, CINNAUGHT/CANNAUGHT, SCHALLOM, STEPPIG, MEES/MAES, REIS, FRIERDICH/FRIEDRICH, KRAFT, BANGERT, DIESEL, HATTER/HOERTER, KIEFER, RAPP, MENTEL, SCHELLHORN, STALEY, WEBER, THOELE, MITCHELL, PROBST, GOLD ----- Original Message ----- From: <KarenHob@aol.com> To: <GERMAN-BOHEMIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 1:57 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-BOHEMIAN] Schramm and Lexicon In a message dated 5/12/2006 10:14:55 AM Mountain Standard Time, LKrupnak@erols.com writes: > I knew from my own research that the Catholic church since its > conception in the 3rd century under Constantine forcibly (thru > economic or religious) would have many subjugated countries convert > to RCC or suffer the consequences. Read up on Sts. Cyril and Methodius for inhformation about the earliest conversion of the Slavs of Moravia and early Bohemia. The introduction of Roman Catholicism into Bohemia came with German settlers (who came with Monastic communities invited to develop the land and increase tax revenues) and with the conversion of some Bohemian rulers. A Catholic was not always on the throne during early history. Assassinations and other intrigues changed that image fairly often at first. So did the welcome that German settlers met. There were times when the Czech nobility became concerned about the economic power of the Germans and tried to expel them (they managed to reduce the German population around Iglau in in parts of the Schonhegst area by quite a bit),. But the consequences always meant a loss of tax revenue so they ended up asking more Germans to settle again. For some reason the Czechs never picked up on the German techniques except in some of the cities. They preferred to stick with their own farming methods which barely produced enough for subsistence. The conversions of rulers may have been because these men really were believers but some may have been for political expedience. The Holy Roman Emperor would be most inclined to assist Catholics in their efforts to repel pagans from the East (Avars, Huns) during the early christian times. The general nobility may have also decided to become Catholic in the Slavic church established by Cyril and Methodius, and eventually became Roman Catholic when the old Slavic church ceased to exist when the last few Slavic monasteries closed and were taken over by Benedictines of Premonstratenians. Many nobelmen required thier serfs / subjects to practice their religion of choice. They probably thought of religion as in a pragmatic way -- helping to keep tabs on their serfs and to control their activities somewhat. Roman Catholicism in Bohemia was more of a conquest by tax revenue requirements than any other "force". Karen ==== GERMAN-BOHEMIAN Mailing List ==== Forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? Visit http://www.rootsweb.com/~gbhs/mailinglist/mailinglist.html