Treaty of Eger

The Treaty of Eger (German: Vertrag von Eger or Hauptvergleich von Eger) was concluded on 25 April 1459 in Eger (Reichspfandschaft Eger). The treaty established the border between Bohemia and the Electorate of Saxony on the heights of the Ore Mountains and the middle of the River Elbe. This border remains largely unchanged today. It is thus one of the oldest still extant borders in Europe.

At that time, Elector Frederick and Duke William of Saxony agreed with the King of Bohemia, George of Poděbrady, that towns, castles, markets and villages that were in crown estate of Bohemia on one side of the forest (Brüx, Riesenburg Castle and Dux together with all spiritual and secular bodies, pensions, interest, duties, etc.), belonged to Bohemia, whilst those estates and castles located the other side of the forest in Thuringia in the Vogtland and in Meissen should be left with the Saxon dukes. Through this agreement, the border disputes that were constantly occurring were ended forever. That said, some places and dominions north of the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland continued to be fiefdoms of the Bohemian crown.

The most significant change to the borders fixed by this treaty happened in 1546, when Duke Moritz and King Ferdinand divided the Barony of Schwarzenberg as part of the spoils of war following the Schmalkaldic War.