1890 - 1902
1890 - 8 December, born in the tower of the Church of St. James (Svaty Jakub) in Policka (now in the Czech Republic) as the son of the cobbler and tower watchman Ferdinand Martinu and Karolina Martinu. Will spend the first twelve years of his life there with his parents and two siblings.
1897 - Begins attending the Townspeople's School in Policka, the only school from which he will ever graduate. First lessons in violin with the local tailor and music teacher Josef Cernovsky.
1902 - Family moves from the tower to a house on the town square.