Old Czechs

The "Old Czechs" were a political group in Bohemia during the 19th century. Bohemia, a historical region that is now part of the Czech Republic, was under Habsburg rule for centuries. The Old Czechs, a faction within the National Party, advocated for maintaining historical rights and loyalty to the Habsburg monarchy, often through parliamentary boycotts.12

This approach contrasted with the progressive Young Czechs, who gained popularity by advocating for more direct political engagement and reforms. The Old Czechs ultimately lost influence in the 1880s, facing a total defeat in the 1891 parliamentary election. The term "Old Czech" also refers to the Czech language as it existed in documents before 1620.13