Jaroslav Lev of Rožmitál

Who is Jaroslav Lev of Rožmitál?

Jaroslav Lev of Rosental and Blatna was a Bohemian nobleman from the House of Lev of Rožmitál. This family came of an ancient and noble Buzice stock. In addition to the family castle in Rožmitál they also held the Castles Blatná and Buzice.

Very little is known of Jaroslav’s youth, but he was trained soldier. He was probably a member of the Czech expedition, as a soldier of fortune in the invasion of Władysław III of Poland in Ottoman territory and took part in the battle of Varna in 1444. His wife came from the family of the Bezdružický of Kolowrat.

King of Bohemia George of Poděbrady was Hussite and Lev was a devout Catholic and they were in opposing camps but when Lev's sister Johana of Rožmitál married George Poděbrad in 1450, Lev was loyal to his royal brother-in-law. The King was anxious to ease his quarrel with the Papacy and between 1465 and 1467 Lev undertook diplomatic travels on behalf of the King through Europe to the Cape Finisterre. Jaroslav was leader of a delegation of 40 nobles and knights with 52 horses. He made himself a name for jousting, and also tried to purge the reputation of Bohemia, which was damaged by the Hussite wars.