Vilém Slavata z Chlumu a Košumberka was a Czechoslovakian nobleman from old Bohemian family.
Background
Vilém was born at his family"s estates in Čestín near Kutná Hora. His father Adam had been an administrator of Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, who in 1583 had taken up his residence at Prague Castle and had guaranteed freedom of religion to the Protestant Bohemian estates by his Letter of Majesty (Rudolfův Majestát) issued in 1609.
Career
Like his father he took service with Rudolf II who appointed him burgrave at Karlštejn. Under Rudolf"s successor Matthias he became chamberlain of the Crown of Bohemia. In return Ferdinand vested him with the office of his representative at Prague, where he had to face the violent uprising of the nobles led by Jindřich Matyáš Thurn on 23 May 1618.
Together with J. Bořita of Martinice he was thrown out of a window of the castle by an enraged multitude and, alive but severely injured, was arrested by the insurgents.
One year later, he managed to escape to Saxony. However, Elector John George I, anxious for his neutral position, forced him to retire to Passau.
After Ferdinand"s victory at the Battle of the White Mountain in 1621, Slavata returned to Bohemia. He died at Jindřichův Hradec.