|POLNA: Jihlava, Bohemia| Founded in the second half of the 12th
century, Polna is first mentioned in a written document in 1242
as having a church. Originally, Polná was a forest collier
settlement near a castle called Polná, originally Polmna. On the
line between tBohemia and Moravia, Polna became an important
mercantile and tactical point abd became the center (later
Polná-Přibyslav) of Polna domain, mostly part of significant
aristocrat families' property. During the Hussite Wars, Hynek
Ptáček of Pirkenštejn, a Hussite nobleman, ruled over Polná and
bought also nearby Přibyslav. In 1623, all of the confiscated
property [resulting from Rudolf Žejdlic's revolt against the
Emperor] was bought by cardinal František of Ditrichštejn who
changed the town's privileges and coat of arms. Polná belonged
to the Ditrichštejns for almost 300 years. In the 17th century a
Jewish community settled in Polná. Today’s Charles Square) SE
from the town’s main square (Hus Square) is a preserved and has
the reconstructed synagog