Štíty

The oldest document about the town was discovered in Liechtenstein archive. It is dated 4 April 1365 referring to the estate transfer from Zdeněk of Sternberg to a man named Heylin. The document also states that the transferred estate is connected to the right coming from year 1278, thus town existence before the 13th century is probable,

Another document comes from 1307 and 1308 which is a complaint of monks from Lanškroun who had to pay tribute of 180 silver grzywnas to the robber baron Ježek of Šilperk.

According to Zemské desky, Štíty was owned by the House of Sternberg from 1308 who often leased the town to another aristocratic families. Štíty coat of arms is inspired by Štenberk coat of arms.

In 1480, the town was sold to Jan Dalčický from Dačice, who donated Štíty as a dowry to Aleš Krčma of Koněpasy. During late 15th and early 16th century the town often changed its owners. From 1553, the owner was Matyáš Žalkovský, who sold the town to Pavel Catharin from Cathar, whose sons sold Štíty to Jan Odkolek from Újezdec in 1602.

Štíty was heavily damaged by fire in 1557.

Jan Odkolek Jr. participated in the uprising against Habsburg rule from 1618 to 1620, and after suppression of the revolt his property, including Štíty, was confiscated. Odkoled escaped to Poland and was convicted in absentia to death.

New owner was the House of Liechtenstein, who administered the town to the fall of feudal system in 1848. Lichtenštein rule was not popular because originally ultraqist town was under strong pressure of recatholization, also corvée obligation was very hard. Liechtenstein's cruel administration was mitigated by intervention of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor.

In 1642 and 1643, the town was looted by Swedish soldiers under the command of general Lennart Torstensson. In 1646, Štíty was looted by Swedish soldiers again, under the command of general Arvid Wittenberg this time. Historical report from Horní Studénky administrator says that "all houses were burnt down expect the church and the town hall" Periodical looting caused famine which happened in 1649.

Štíty was stricken by plague in 1680 and again in 1713. As a reaction the plague column was erected in 1713, which still can be found in the town's main square.

During war of the Austrian Succession, Prussian hussars fought minor victorious battle with Austrian soldiers in town's neighborhood. As a result, Prussians invaded to Štíty and started looting. Allegedly, one of the Štíty residents, the man named Dušek, shot from church tower to the group of hussars. Prussian major Schütz ordered to execute 83 Štíty men and to burn the town down.

Another devastating fire stroke Štíty on 21 March 1799. According to the chronicle of Welzl, 74 houses were destroyed. The fire started in local forge.

The castle was situated in the place of the current Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The structure was not strategically significant and was probably burnt down by hussite army in 1424. Ruins were used as a building material for new houses.

Munich agreement let the annexation of Czechoslovak borderland including Štíty by Nazi Germany. Most of Czech citizens were evacuated to the inland. Kubíčkům mlýn, the mill in the area Na Pilníku, was the meeting point for local resistance movement from 1941 to 30 March 1944, when resistance members were imprisoned. Labor camps for Polish and French prisoners were operating near the town.

Štíty was liberated by Red Army at midnight from 4 to 5 May 1945. The population was ethnically mixed until 1945 when Sudeten Germans were expelled.