In 1848, Dr. Beda Dudík, a professor at Brno’s School of Philosophy, belonging to the St. Benedictine Order in the Rajhrad Monastery and a noted provincial historian of Moravia, published, in Vienna’s “Österreichische Bläter für Literatur und Kunstgeschichte, Geografie, Statistik und Naturkunde,” published by Schmidt, a story about the time period a few days before the Battle at Slavkov in 1805. There was an assassination plot to kill Napoleon I that was accidentally discovered.

After the Austrian army was beaten by Murat and Lannes at Hollabrun on 15 – 16 November 1805, Napoleon moved his headquarters to Znojmo, then to Pohořelice, and finally to Brno. Due to the fact that he foresaw a battle close to city perimeters, Napoleon was meticulous with his fortifications around Špilberk castle, in order to ensure strength and protection. On the morning of 29 November, Napoleon went with his army on horseback from “Zemský dům,” where he was staying, through the Brno Gate, to check the fortification work at Špilberk. Where the street narrows, near the Brno Gate, barely enabling two carts to pass each other, there is an ordinary one-level house, no. 261, that used to belong to Zinkel Schmied Mittermaier. In order to get a better view of the passing Emperor, he climbed up to his garret. There he was shocked to see Christel, his own journeyman, with a loaded rifle, standing by the gable.

“Oh, wretched boy! What are you doing?!” and with these words, Mr. Mittermaier jumped on him. The journeyman answered in a calm voice, “I am going to shoot the Emperor.”

Mr. Mittermaier was clever enough not to reveal this murderous plot, but later, once there were more safe circumstances, the honest citizen told his friends of this story, omitting no details. Christel had devised a well thought-out plan, and there was no doubt that he would have been successful with it. He had the advantage of the narrow street, he was absolutely composed, and fully prepared to flee through the back streets that led to an evangelical chapel. He regretted not being able to carry out his murderous plan.

Dudík concludes that Mr. Mittermaier had now been dead for several years, but there were still some honest citizens and administrators who had heard this story directly from Mr. Mittermaier and were willing to attest to its truth whenever it is asked of them.