Black Bartosch (Czech: Černý Bartoš) is a young knight in the service of Lord Otto von Bergow as his personal bodyguard. He also serves as the swordmaster of the Trosky Castle garrison and functions as a trainer in various combat skills.
His historical counterpart is Bartholomaeus of Drahonice (c. 1380/1390–1443), a Czech knight, an active participant and a chronicler of the Hussite wars.[1]
Biography[]
He came from a noble family who had long owned estates in the Karlstein region. His father served Emperor Charles IV his entire life, although their house became neither renowned nor rich. Despite their comparatively modest means, they sent him to University of Prague, but he spent more time fighting than studying. When his family could no longer afford his education, he "had to do what he does best" - he became a mercenary.
Bartosch have dedicated the last five years of his life to traveling and learning the art of fencing from the masters swordsmen. By the 1403 he was serving in the garrison in Prague's royal castle where von Bergow was a frequent guest. He recently won two big tournaments so he was invited to a banquet where he caught the attention of the Royal Chamberlain. He repaid the favor by helping Sir Otto survive the ambush set by Jan Zizka's band.
Before the assault of the Nebakov fortress, von Bergow charged him with keeping Hans Capon safe, but in the chaos of the bloody skirmish he got separated. He survived and along with another knight, Hermann Littlehead, have been taken prisoner by Zizka. Later, he presumably was freed by the joined forces of von Bergow and Markvart von Aulitz.
Associated Quests[]
Historical Context[]
- Bartholomaeus of Drahonice [Bartošek, Bartossius] ca 1380/1390-1443. Bohemia. Soldier; author of Latin chronicle of the Hussite revolution. Born to a family of lower noblemen. As adherent of Sigismund of Luxembourg during the Hussite revolution he fought on the Catholic side as a member of the garrison of Prague Castle, then of Karlstein.:In 1426 he contracted an eye disease and left military service. His only work is a chronicle of the war years 1419-43, written after 1426, possibly in Karlstein. In 85 manuscript folios he described the war events from the military and economic point of view. The rough text written in bad Latin is valuable for its relatively objective information drawn from his own experience and that of other soldiers.
- — Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle[2]