Ploskovice

Ploskovice
Ploskovice
Municipality
	Flag Coat of arms
	Ploskovice
	Coordinates: 50°33′27″N 14°11′45″E / 50.55750°N 14.19583°E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Ústí nad Labem
District	Litoměřice
Area
• Total	8.41 km2 (3.25 sq mi)
Elevation	238 m (781 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	384
• Density	46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Postal code	411 42 to 412 01
Website	http://www.ploskovice.cz

Ploskovice (German: Ploschkowitz) is a village and municipality (obec) in Litoměřice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.

The municipality covers an area of 8.41 square kilometres (3.25 sq mi), and has a population of 384 (as at 31 December 2007).

Ploskovice lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) north-east of Litoměřice, 16 km (10 mi) south-east of Ústí nad Labem, and 55 km (34 mi) north of Prague.

History

Duchess Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg (1672 – 1741) had sprawling estates in the region, including the castle of Ploschkowitz (now Ploskovice), acquired by her father in 1663. She was very wealthy, and brought a possible claim to the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg through her father Duke Julius Francis.^[1] Through their possessions the ducal family also belonged to the Bohemian nobility.

In 1697, the Duchess married Gian Gastone de' Medici, who later became Grand Duke of Tuscany. They lived in the castle of Ploschkowitz. Anna Maria Franziska dominated her weak husband, which drove him into the arms of alcohol. He deplored her behaviour, "capriciousness, peevish faces and sharp words". Gian Gastone stayed with his wife for a mere ten months, before fleeing to Prague.^[2] The Tuscan grand duchess refused to come to Tuscany, despite her husband's constant protestations. She believed that the Medici were in the habit of murdering their consorts.^[3]

References

Czech Statistical Office: Municipalities of Litoměřice District

Notes

^ Paul Strathern, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, London: Vintage books, 2003, pp. 397 – 398. ISBN 978-0-09-952297-3
^ "Gian Gastone". Yahoo.com - Geocities. Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-08-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Paul Strathern, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, London: Vintage books, 2003, p. 403. ISBN 978-0-09-952297-3

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[1] Paul Strathern, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, London: Vintage books, 2003, pp. 397 – 398. ISBN 978-0-09-952297-3

[2] "Gian Gastone". Yahoo.com - Geocities. Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-08-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[3] Paul Strathern, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, London: Vintage books, 2003, p. 403. ISBN 978-0-09-952297-3

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