The Palace of Queen Anne Jagiello and Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol by the White Tower in Prague Castle

Abstract

From the times of Vladislaus II Jagiello (1456–1516) the residence in Prague Castle had two parts. After a costly refurbishment, the Old Royal Palace was adapted as the King’s seat and a new palace was built for the Queen by the White Tower on the west side of Prague Castle. Later it became the residence of Queen Anne Jagiello (1503–1547), wife of Ferdinand I, and after her death, in 1547, it became the residence of the second-born, Bohemian Governor Archduke Ferdinand II. Although not much has survived after numerous reconstructions, one can get a rough idea of its extent and furnishings on the basis of several fragments, written sources and iconography.