Malečov
The following text is taken from the file "Notes on the design of the municipal coat of arms and flag," prepared for the municipality of Malečov in 2020 by Stanislav Kasík for the Heraldic Office "Dauphin" in Roudnice nad Labem. Published with the permission of the author and the municipality of Malečov.
The first mention of the village of Malečov in historical written sources dates back to 1057 (or 1058). It is mentioned in the so-called founding charter of the Litoměřice Chapter issued by the Czech prince Spytihněv II. Historians place the undated document in 1057 or 1058. The original preserved Latin-written act records the founding of the Chapter in Litoměřice with the Church of St. Stephen and the rich endowment of the new ecclesiastical institution with estates, servants, customs revenues, immunities, and other privileges. In later additions (in Czech from the mid-12th century to the first quarter of the 13th century), other donors are mentioned. Among the donated villages, Malšice ("Malseu") and Březí ("Breza") are included (SObA Litoměřice, Chapter Archive, document no. 1; Codex diplomaticus et epistolaris regni Bohemiae. Tomus I. Pragae 1904-1907, no. 55, pp. 53-60; hereafter CDB).
In the last decade of the 20th century, the settlement of the Bohemian Central Highlands between Svádov and Ploskovice was studied by PhDr. Tomáš Velimský in his published work "Trans montes, ad fontes!" (Most 1998). In the chapter titled "Hroznata of Peruc and the possession of Svádov," he deals with localities mentioned in the charter of Prince Bedřich for the Crusaders of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from 1188. The prince confirmed the possession of the Johannites of some estates that had been granted to the Order during the reign of Prince Soběslav II (1174-1178) by the nobleman Hroznata of Peruc, called "Crispus" ("Curly"). Among others, eight villages are named: "Swadou, Koiatici, Brezenec, Zalezli, Pogorici, Tasovsko, Probostou, Plozkowici" (CDB I., no. 320, pp. 292-294). These villages are identified as Svádov, Kojetice, Březí, Horní Zálezly, Pohoří, Tašov, and Proboštov. The cadastres of these villages form an almost continuous territory, which Velímský named "Svádovský Újezd." The cadastres of Budov and Malečov, which are not mentioned in the charter from 1188, are missing for completeness. This suggests that they did not belong to Hroznata of Peruc. However, it can be assumed that these two eventually became part of "Svádovský Újezd." Possible property transfers from that time remain speculative.
A definite mention of Malečov appears in a document from 1197 (CDB II., 1912, No. 357, pp. 323-325). The owner of Malečov was the nobleman Hroznata, called Tepelský. He may have purchased the village from the Litoměřice Chapter or acquired it in another way. It is also possible that Malečov was given to him by Hroznata of Peruc, who was his relative. Hroznata's will from 1197 states that he donated Malečov to his chaplain Holofern (CDB I., No. 357, pp. 323-325; Kubín, Petr: Blessed Hroznata. A Critical Biography. Prague 2000, p. 171).
Malečov was located on an important trade route from Litoměřice to Ústí nad Labem, with other destinations being the border crossings in the Ore Mountains (Nakléřov, Petrovice). The connection between Malečov and Svádovský Újezd was reinforced by its affiliation with the parish district of the Church of St. James the Greater in Svádov. At the end of the 14th century, Malečov belonged to Varta Castle, which was held by Beneš Škopek of Dubá and Liběšice in 1383. The small Varta Castle, southeast of Velké Březno, was built sometime before 1364 by the Vartenbergs of Děčín. An indirect indication of this connection is that Jan of Děčín from Vartenberk served as a parish priest in Valtířov in 1364. The castle was certainly standing in 1378. In 1397, the aforementioned owner Beneš Škopek bequeathed Varta and its accessories to his son Beneš the Younger. A land record from March 17, 1397, states that the estate belonging to Varta Castle included, among others, the villages of Bříza ("Brziezu") and Malečov ("Malessov"; Reliquiae tabularum terrae regni Bohemiae anno MDXLI igne consumptarum. Tomus I. Pragae 1870, p. 570, hereafter RT).
In the 18th and 19th centuries, topographical literature provided extensive information about Malečov and its localities.
In 1787, Malečov ("Malschen") belonged to the allodial estate of Svádov, owned by Christian August, Prince of Waldeck. The village consisted of 32 houses (Schaller, Jaroslaus: Topographie des Königreichs Böhmen. Fünfter Theil. Leitmeritzer Kreis. Prag und Wien 1787, p. 292; hereafter Schaller).
In 1833, Malečov ("Malschen," "Malssov") belonged to the Svádov estate, which was part of the allodial manor of Ploskovice and Záhořany. Its owner at that time was Leopold II, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany. The village consisted of 32 houses with 204 inhabitants. It was annexed to Proboštov (St. John the Baptist; Sommer, Johann Gottfried: Das Königreich Böhmen. Erster Band. Leitmeritzer Kreis. Prag 1833, p. 357; hereafter Sommer).
In 1848, Malečov ("Malečow," "Malešow," "Malschen") was part of the Ploskovice estate, and within it, the Svádov estate, owned by Leopold II, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany. The village consisted of 32 houses with 196 inhabitants of German nationality (Palacký, František: Description of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Prague 1848, p. 72; hereafter Palacký).
Otto’s dictionary in 1900 provided the following statistical data about Malečov ("Malešov," "Malschen"). The village consisted of 34 houses with 197 inhabitants of German nationality (1890 census). It was annexed to Proboštov (St. John the Baptist). The village belonged to the administrative and political district of Ústí nad Labem (Otto’s Dictionary. Volume XVI. Prague 1900, p. 699; hereafter UN).
In the past, there were orchards in Malečov. According to historical photographs, the orchards were extensive and significantly shaped the local landscape. As in other parts of the Bohemian Central Highlands, apple and pear trees were likely cultivated here.
Linguists state the following about the place name "Malečov." The original form of the name was probably "Malešov" (1197, 1397). In the unstressed second syllable, the vowel "e" weakened until it disappeared. The German name "Malschen" arose from the form "Malšov" in later times. The forms "Malečov" (1402) and "Malíčov" (1568, 1626) are attributed to distant scribes (Profous, III., 1951, p. 9). Malešov means "Maleš's court" (Profous, III., 1951, p. 11).
Photo Documentation
Published photographs are protected by copyright. If you are interested in downloading them, please send us a message at info@malecovskyrozhled.cz. The photographs come from private archives, Petr Špaček’s book "How It Was in Ústí nad Labem 2," and especially from the archives of the Ústí nad Labem City Museum. 
