Liminal Worlds
2026 will mark 210 years since the death of Thaddeus Haenke. Despite his bust gracing the rear cornice of the National Museum’s main building in the heart of Prague, he remains largely unknown to both the Czech public and the international community.
Born in the Bohemian village of Chřibská in 1761, and educated in Prague and Vienna, Haenke became a pivotal scientist in the Malaspina expedition, an ambitious maritime scientific and political voyage, which mapped Spanish territories from Alaska to the Philippines and back. Often referred to as the “Czech Humboldt,” Haenke was a botanist, inventor, polyglot, physician, talented musician and multi-instrumentalist. He described numerous plants for Europe, including the giant water lily, or Victoria regia, which he famously spotted in the Bolivian jungle in 1810. In 1816, his life came to an abrupt end under mysterious circumstances in Cochabamba, Bolivia—his adopted home. Theories surrounding his death range from accidental poisoning to assassination by royalists, angered by his support for indigenous independence movements.
Museum of Thaddeus Haenke in Chribska. (c) Vojtech Veskrna
Like many of his contemporaries, Haenke’s life was intertwined with the colonial systems of his era. While his role in these structures cannot be ignored, historical accounts show he fostered positive relationships with indigenous communities, improved local public health, developed new agricultural and industrial practices in his adopted home, and championed arts and culture.
Ironically, while his writings shed light on the multi-faceted ecologies of South America, they also highlight the tragic loss of biodiversity and traditional knowledge the region has suffered since—a consequence of the destructive expansion of European colonialism, of which he was, inadvertently, a part of.
So, how do we assess the legacies of colonial-era figures today—individuals whose actions have contributed to today’s environmental crises, yet also offer important insights into historical research and preservation of irreplaceable natural heritage?
Perhaps the real challenge lies not in simply denouncing the historical subjects as colonial agents but in tracing the entangled networks—of people, ideas, plants, and practices—that constitute their legacies. Haenke’s actions, far from being reducible to colonial exploitation, form part of a complex web of interactions that shape both scientific knowledge and the global ecologies we must now reckon with.
Follow us as we embark on a project mapping Haenke’s legacy and its implications in today’s world.
Museum of Thaddeus Haenke in Chribska. (c) Vojtech Veskrna
For now, get the vibes from Cochabamba as per this mix on our favourite NTS Radio: