The archaeological excavation conducted in Prague – New Town in 2013 at the intersection of today’s Národní třída – Mikulandská streets, i.e. in the medieval New Town, yielded, among other things, the unique find of a late medieval long sword. The sword was found in an oval feature of an unknown function (definitely not a cesspit), whose demise dates to the turn of the 16th century. The sword, which can be classified as an Oakeshott type XVIIIb, T14, 12a, can be dated to the period between the second half of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. These and other findings come from an analysis of the find situation, from metallographic examination, and mainly from detailed typo-chronological analysis of the weapon and marks, by which the sword was signed.
By a patent of 10 March 1770, Empress Maria Teresa ordered a register and census to be carried out in Bohemia, Lower Austria and the Habsburg Erblande of all persons, draft animals and houses with the aim of reorganizing military sectors and determining the defensive capability of the population. Conscription was carried out door-to-door by senior army officers in conjunction with regional commissars, or in the case of Prague with councillors from the various municipalities. In Prague New Town, the recruitment commission began work on 1 October 1770 and finished on 19 February 1771. This study is devoted to members of the painting profession – painters and their assistants (varnishers and gilders) – whose names are to be found in these records. Painters were to some extent a special case since, unlike most other artisans, they were legally permitted to carry out their trade in various different ways. The study thus looks not only at the circumstances, origin and age of individual artists, but also aims to describe the different ways in which they could conduct their profession. Examining the conscription records, it also becomes clear what a rich source they represent, providing invaluable insights into the population of Prague in the latter half of the 18th century.