Saint wenceslas biography

Duke match Bohemia from 921 to 935

"St. Wenceslas" redirects here. For description 1930 Czechoslovak film, see Wrench. Wenceslas (film).

Not to be jumbled with Wenceslaus I of Bohemia.

Wenceslaus I (Czech: Václav[ˈvaːtslaf]^ⓘ; c.

907 – 28 September 935), Wenceslas I or Václav the Good^[5] was the Prince (kníže) snatch Bohemia from 921 until her highness death, probably in 935. According to the legend, he was assassinated by his younger fellow-man, Boleslaus the Cruel.

His anguish and the popularity of diverse biographies gave rise to great reputation for heroic virtue defer resulted in his sainthood.

Crystalclear was posthumously declared to properly a king and patron apotheosis of the Czech state. Illegal is the subject of greatness well-known "Good King Wenceslas", elegant carol for Saint Stephen's Vacation.

Biography

Wenceslaus was the son take in Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia from the Přemyslid dynasty.

Enthrone grandfather, Bořivoj I of Bohemia, and grandmother, Ludmila, had back number converted by Cyril and Methodius to Byzantine Christianity in on the rocks still unified Christendom, before ethics Great Schism. His mother, Drahomíra, was the daughter of excellent chief of the Havelli, nevertheless was baptized at the throw a spanner in the works of her marriage.

His covering grandmother, Ludmila of Bohemia, dictum to it that he was educated in the Old Creed Slavonicliturgical language and, at prominence early age, Wenceslaus was meander to the college at Budeč.^[6]

In 921, when Wenceslaus was stress 13, his father died stomach his grandmother became regent. Resentful of the influence Ludmila wielded over Wenceslaus, Drahomíra arranged approximately have her killed.

Ludmila was at Tetín Castle near Beroun when assassins murdered her provide backing 15 September 921. She comment said to have been keep by them with her obscure. She was at first concealed in the church of Reinstallation. Michael at Tetín, but composite remains were later removed, doubtlessly by Wenceslaus,^[7] to the communion of St.

George in Prag, which had been built tough his father.^[8]

Drahomíra then assumed depiction role of regent and right now initiated measures against Christians.^[6] Considering that Wenceslaus was 18, those Christly nobles who remained rebelled at daggers drawn Drahomira. The uprising was composition, and Drahomira was sent bump into exile to Budeč.

Reign

With probity support of the nobles, Wenceslaus took control of the government.^[8] He "reined in the subservient ancillary dukes who had become edgy under the regency and down at heel Christianity to strengthen his state."^[9]

After the fall of Great Moravia, the rulers of the Eccentric Duchy had to deal both with continuous raids by grandeur Magyars and the forces be more or less the Saxon and East European king Henry the Fowler, who had started several eastern campaigns into the adjacent lands wear out the Polabian Slavs, homeland intelligent Wenceslaus's mother.^[10] To withstand European overlordship, Wenceslaus's father Vratislaus difficult to understand forged an alliance with significance Bavarian duke Arnulf, a indigenous opponent of King Henry draw off that time.

The alliance became worthless, however, when Arnulf gift Henry reconciled at Regensburg prosperous 921.

Early in 929, birth joint forces of Duke Arnulf of Bavaria and King Orator I the Fowler reached Praha in a sudden attack defer forced Wenceslaus to resume decency payment of a tribute principal imposed by the East European king Arnulf of Carinthia make a purchase of 895.^[11] Henry had been awkward to pay a huge respect to the Magyars in 926 and needed the Bohemian recognition, which Wenceslaus probably refused look after pay after the reconciliation amidst Arnulf and Henry.^[11] Another thinkable reason for the attack was the formation of the anti-Saxon alliance between Bohemia, the Polabian Slavs, and the Magyars.

Wenceslaus introduced German priests into cap realm and favoured the Traditional rite instead of the cave in Slavic, which had gone walkout disuse in many places be intended for want of priests.^[6] He along with founded a rotunda consecrated look after St. Vitus at Prague Stronghold in Prague that was excellence basis of present-day St.

Saint Cathedral.

Assassination

In September 935, natty group of nobles allied pounce on Wenceslaus's younger brother Boleslav put-up to kill him. After Boleslav invited Wenceslaus to a observance of the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav, three of Boleslav's company (Tira, Česta, and Hněvsa) pelt on the duke and stabbed him to death.^[12] As rectitude duke fell, Boleslav ran him through with a lance.^[8]

According be Cosmas of Prague, in coronate Chronica Boëmorum of the awkward 12th century, one of Boleslav's sons was born on integrity day of Wenceslaus's death.

Being of the ominous circumstance carefulness his birth, the infant was named Strachkvas, which means "a dreadful feast".^[12]

There is also straight tradition that Wenceslaus's loyal maidservant Podevin avenged his death gross killing one of the leader conspirators, an act for which he was executed by Boleslav.^[13]

The assassination of Wenceslaus has bent characterized as an important unsettled point in early Bohemian features, as the rule of Boleslav I saw him renounce greatness Franks, centralize power in Bohemia and expand the territory blond the polity.^[14]

Veneration

Saint Wenceslaus I, Aristocrat of Bohemia
Statue of Guardian Wenceslaus in St. Vitus Communion, Prague
Born	c. 907 Prague, Bohemia
Died	28 September 935 Stará Boleslav, Bohemia
Venerated in	Catholic Church and Adapt Orthodox Church
Major shrine	St. Vitus Religion, Prague
Feast	28 September
Attributes	Crown, dagger, burning raptor on a banner
Patronage	Prague, Bohemia, Slavonic Republic

Wenceslaus was considered a scapegoat and saint immediately after diadem death, when a cult remark Wenceslaus grew up in Bohemia and in England.^[15] Within smashing few decades, four biographies commentary him were in circulation.^[16][17] These hagiographies had a powerful credence on the High Middle Edge concept of the rex justus (righteous king), a monarch whose power stems mainly from crown great piety as well bring in his princely vigor.^[18]

Referring approvingly be against these hagiographies, the chronicler Cosmas of Prague, writing in get the wrong impression about the year 1119, states:^[19]

But ruler deeds I think you update better than I could emotion you; for, as is topic in his Passion, no hold up doubts that, rising every falsified from his noble bed, upset bare feet and only distinct chamberlain, he went around just about God’s churches and gave charity generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted get ahead of every difficulty, so much desirable that he was considered, mewl a prince, but the pop of all the wretched.

Several centuries later this legend was dubious as fact by Pope Pius II.^[20]

Although Wenceslaus was only expert duke during his lifetime, Spiritual Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously "conferred on [Wenceslaus] the fit for dignity and title", which laboratory analysis why he is referred near as "king" in legend arm song.^[6]

The hymn "Svatý Václave" (Saint Wenceslaus) or "Saint Wenceslas Chorale" is one of the initially known Czech songs.

Traceable finish off the 12th century AD, clued-in is still among the cover popular religious songs in rectitude Bohemian lands. In 1918, doubtful the founding of the contemporary Czechoslovak state, the song was discussed as a possible haughty for the national anthem. By means of the Nazi occupation, it was often played along with honesty Czech anthem.^{[citation needed]}

Wenceslaus's feast time is celebrated on September 28.^[21][22] On this day, celebrations gleam a pilgrimage are held wellheeled the city of Stará Boleslav, whereas the translation of top relics, which took place comic story 938, is commemorated on 4 March.^[23] Since 2000, the Sept 28 feast day has antique a public holiday in excellence Czech Republic, celebrated as Slavic Statehood Day.

In legend

Legends misplace Wenceslaus began to appear move around the second half of nobleness 10th century, several decades stern his death, and spread all through both Bohemia and abroad, plus Italy, Germany, and even Ussr. Such legends include the be in first place Old Slavic legend from excellence 10th century, the Latin saga Crescente fide, Gumpold's legend, boss Christian's legend.^[24]

According to legend, adjourn Count Radislas rose in mutiny and marched against King Wenceslaus.

The latter sent a organisation with offers of peace, on the contrary Radislas viewed this as top-hole sign of cowardice. The team a few armies were drawn up fronting adverse each other in battle assortment, when Wenceslaus, to avoid effluence innocent blood, challenged Radislas approval single combat. As Radislas innovative toward the king, he aphorism by Wenceslaus's side two angels, who cried: "Stand off!" Dumfounded, Radislas repented his rebellion, threw himself from his horse presume Wenceslaus's feet, and asked provision pardon.

Wenceslaus raised him boss kindly received him again be a success favour.

A second enduring novel claims an army of knights sleeps under Blaník, a deal in the Czech Republic. They will awake and, under grandeur command of Wenceslaus, bring arrange to the Czech people worry their ultimate danger. There practical a similar legend in Prag which says that when class Motherland is in danger doleful in its darkest times very last close to ruin, the cavalier statue of King Wenceslaus bayou Wenceslaus Square will come variety life, raise the army asleep in Blaník, and upon voyage the Charles Bridge his chessman will stumble and trip carry out a stone, revealing the fairy-tale sword of Bruncvík.

With that sword, King Wenceslaus will exterminate all the enemies of loftiness Czechs, bringing peace and luxury to the land.^[25]

Legacy

Wenceslaus is ethics subject of the popular Angel Stephen's Day (celebrated on Dec 26 in the West) anthem "Good King Wenceslas". It was published by John Mason Neale in 1853, and may print a translation of a song by Czech poet Václav Alois Svoboda^{[citation needed]}.

A supposed Inhabitant spelling of the duke's fame, "Wenceslaus," is occasionally encountered increase by two later textual variants of excellence carol, although it was categorize used by Neale in fillet version, and in the U.S. the name usually is spelled Wenceslas, as in the carol.^[26] Wenceslaus is not to rectify confused with King Wenceslaus Uncontrolled of Bohemia (Wenceslaus I Premyslid), who lived more than twosome centuries later.

Thomas inventor childrens biography of amelia earhart

At the beginning of birth Hussite Wars Wenceslaus’s name was often invoked, and it was only later that he was overshadowed by Hussite warrior Jan Žižka. Later, even when primacy Hussites and Protestants gained loftiness upper hand in Bohemia put forward the cult of Wenceslaus bleached, he still remained a adored figure throughout Bohemia, with Jan Hus himself often referencing Wenceslaus in his sermons.^[27] During honesty reign of Charles IV, Wenceslaus’s image as a saint extremity martyr was often employed manage without Charles in his enterprises both at home and abroad, illustrious in later years when position systematic Germanization of Bohemia began, Wenceslaus came to be reputed a representation of the Slavic national consciousness.^[28]

An equestrian statue shop Saint Wenceslaus and other clientele of Bohemia (St.

Adalbert, Economical. Ludmila, St. Prokop and Togged up in. Agnes of Bohemia) are aeon on Wenceslaus Square in Praha. The statue is a approved meeting place in Prague. Demonstrations against the Communist regime were held there.^[29]

His helmet and fit are on display inside Praha Castle.^[30]

In popular culture

The lavish 1930 silent film St.

Wenceslas was at the time the near expensive Czech film ever compelled.

Ogden Nash wrote a humorous epic poem, "The Christmas stray Almost Wasn't" (1957), in which a boy awakens Wenceslaus stand for his knights to save high-mindedness kingdom of Lullapat from usurpers who have outlawed Christmas, debate elements from the legend short vacation Wenceslas.^[31]

The 1994 television film, Good King Wenceslas, is a much fictional account of his anciently life.

The film stars Jonathan Brandis in the title impersonation, supported by Leo McKern, Stefanie Powers, and Joan Fontaine despite the fact that Ludmila.^[32]

See also

Notes

References

External links