The passionate story of Rudolf's love of his life - Kateřina Stradová
Rudolf II.Roman emperor, King of Bohemia and Hungary, was known as a particularly interesting ruler, who adored women, of astrology, magi and waited for his lucky star. Fulget caesaris astrum. After he moved to his beloved Prague Castle, he gradually retreated into seclusion and devoted himself to his art and natural history collections more than to ruling.
The thriving, bustling Prague was something different from the dingy Spanish court in which he had been brought up. This powerful and charming emperor charmed Countess Katherine Strad. She succumbed to Rudolf's wooing, his sweet words, generous gifts and flattery. She basked in the limelight of Rudolf's love and became his uncrowned empress. At that time she had no idea how fickle his moods were, and she did not know that his enthusiasm would one day turn into exasperation. Moreover, Rudolf had to cope with increasing pressure from his family to enter into an equal marriage.
A gripping historical story - Rudolf and Katherine, Master Kelly, High Chamberlain Rumpf and Court Councillor Trautson, The doctor Jan Jesenius and the poetess Westonia are walking through Prague again and the porters are going to sleep in the Golden Lane, bell ringers, cobblers and alchemists, trying to make gold or prepare the elixir of youth.
