Bohemian vs. Bohemian

While in Prague I had a question that has been bothering me ever since: What does Bohemia (the former kingdom located in what is now the Czech Republic) have to do with bohemians (as in starving artists)?

Turns out, not much.

The term bohemian, written with a lower case "B," refers to the counter-culture lifestyle of artist and intellectuals who choose to forgo material possessions. They live in marginal poverty while pursuing "their art," and often have unconventional styles of dress and morals.

First used by the French in the mid-1800s, the term was soon after was adopted by English speakers. The French began using the term to refer to artists who were moving in to low-rent, gypsy neighborhoods. At the time the French mistakenly believed that the gypsies* came from Bohemia.

In my quick Google search to find the answer I came across one piece of information that I found particularly funny. Wikipedia listed several parts of cities that are now considered to be “Bohemia.” Among the European locations are Montmartre in Paris, Chelsea in London, and Schwabing in Munich. Missing from the list, any place that is in the Czech Republic.

* Gypsies, also known as Roma, are believed to be originally from India and began migrating West toward Europe in the 14th century.