Duchy of Friedland

Duchy of Friedland (Czech: Frýdlantské vévodství, German: Herzogtum Friedland) was a de facto sovereign duchy in Bohemia. It was created in 1627 and disappeared in 1634, after death of the ruler, Albrecht von Wallenstein (1582 - 1634). It was preceded by the Principality of Friedland (Czech: Frýdlantské knížectví, German: Fürstentum Friedland) existing in the years 1624 to 1627.

Establishment of the principality, and then the duchy, followed the rise to power of Albrecht von Wallenstein, a military leader in the service of the House of Habsburg during the Thirty Years' War.

In August 1622 Wallenstein was granted titles of Count Palatine (falckrabě, Pfalzgraf) and Imperial Count (hrabě, Graf). A predicate "of Friedland" (z Frýdlantu, von Friedland) was granted after northern Bohemian town Frýdlant (Friedland) acquired by Wallenstein in 1621, together with the whole Friedland dominion (panství, Herschaft). On September 7, 1623 he was given title of Imperial Duke. At this time he owned 49 dominions in eastern and northern part of Bohemia, in year 1624 the number grew up to 64 and on March 12, 1624 Emperor Ferdinand II declared the area as Principality of Friedland. Because of ducal title the Principality was elevated to Duchy on January 4, 1627.

The new duchy was de facto independent from the rest of Bohemia. Wallenstein had started an ambitious reconstruction of Jičín, capital of the duchy. He planned to set up bishopric, university and a diet. In 1628 he obtained the right to mint its own coins and the rights to grant nobility titles and township privileges.

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