Battle On The Marchfeld in Art and Popular Culture
The battle was depicted in art especially during the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, when it was viewed as the example of an established liaison between the Austrian Habsburg dynasty and the Hungarian kingdom from one side, and a warning portent of a traditional tension between the House of Habsburg, Bohemian kings from 1526, and the Czech people from the other side.
The tragedy König Ottokars Glück und Ende written by Franz Grillparzer in 1823 is based on the rise and fall of king Ottokar II. This drama was originally inspired by the life of Napoleon, though Grillparzer, fearing Metternich's censorship, chose to write the play about Ottokar, in whose story he found many parallels. It nevertheless was immediately forbidden and could not be performed until 1825. Grillparzer perpetuated the legend of Ottokar's wife Margaret of Babenberg unsuccessfully trying to reconcile the opponents on the eve of the battle. In fact, Margaret had died already in 1266.
The opera The Brandenburgers in Bohemia composed by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana in 1863 was inspired by this battle and following events as well.
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