After his death, Charles IV's embalmed body was on view in Prague Castle for eleven days. Then, on 11 December 1378, a city-wide procession began, which lasted four days. The emperor's body made its way from Hradčany through the Lesser Town and onto the new stone bridge, then through the Old and New Towns, finally arriving at Vyšehrad – the ancient cult centre and residence of the Přemyslid dynasty.
The emperor's body remained in the church on Vyšehrad for one night before being taken through the New and Old towns again, and across the bridge back to the cathedral. This procession was said to have included 564 men dressed in black, carrying candles, marching in front of the richly dressed body of the emperor, carried on biers, his head surrounded by his three crowns – Imperial, Bohemian, and Lombard.
The thousands
