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Apr 15, 2024 · house of Přemysl. Wenceslas I (born c. 907, Stochov, near Prague—died Sept. 28, 929, Stará Boleslav, Bohemia; feast day September 28) was the prince of Bohemia, a martyr, and the patron saint of the Czech Republic. Wencelas was raised a Christian by his grandmother St. Ludmila, but his ambitious mother, Drahomíra (Dragomir), a pagan, had ...
- Who Was Saint Wenceslas?
- Birth and Childhood
- When Did Wenceslas Become The Duke of Bohemia?
- Conflict with The German King Henry I The Fowler
- Why Was St. Wenceslas Killed?
- When and Where Did St Wenceslas Die?
- Patron Saint of Bohemia
- Who Succeeded Wenceslas to The Bohemian Throne?
- Patron Saint of Czech Republic
- St. Wenceslas Statue and Art
Born in present-day Prague, Wenceslas (also called Wenceslaus) was the duke of Bohemia in the 10thcentury CE. Although his mother deeply held pagan views, the Bohemian ruler remained resolute in defending Christian values and belief. Wenceslas is believed to have set up a number of churches and charitable centers all across Bohemia. This enabled hi...
Wenceslas was born in 907 CE in Stochov (present-day Czech) to parents – Vrastislaus I (Duke of Bohemia) and Drahomíra. Vrastislaus I, who hailed from the influential Přemysl dynasty, ruled Bohemia from 870 to 889 CE. It has been stated that Wenceslas picked up his Christian values from his father’s side. On the other hand, Wenceslaus’ mother Draho...
Upon reaching the age of 18, in 925, Wenceslaus inherited the dukedom of Bohemia. The young duke made sure that all his mother’s anti-Christian policies were stopped. He either fired or exiled the pagan officials in his mother’s court. Finally, he had his mother exiled to Budeč, where she spent the rest of her life. Before Wenceslaus took control o...
For quite a long time, the Magyar and Saxon and East Franks (led by king henry the Fowler) were a thorn in the flesh of the Dukedom of Bohemia. Starting around 895 CE, Bohemia dealt with such attacks by paying large amounts of tribute to the East Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia. With such close alliances between the Bohemians and the Bavarian Duk...
After capitulating to Henry I the Fowler, a number of nobles and courtiers of Wenceslas felt aggrieved. Those nobles were outraged simply because Wenceslas did not put up a fight against the German king henry I the Fowler. The aggrieved noblemen proceeded to plot Wenceslas’ death. They were aided by Wenceslaus’ brother Boleslav (also known as Boles...
The accepted date of Wenceslas’ death is September 28. However, the year of his death has been given as either 929 or 935. The year 935 is commonly accepted by historians. The place where Wenceslas was believed to have been murdered was during the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav. The feast was organized by Wenceslaus’ brother Bo...
After Wenceslaus’ death, a number of unexplained, miraculous events took place in Bohemia. These events rattled the cage of Boleslav, forcing the murderer to transfer the remains of Wenceslaus to the Church of St. Vitus in Prague. In the years following Wenceslas’ death, the martyred duke came to be venerated as the patron saint of Bohemia. As time...
After the death of St. Wenceslaus, Boleslav (Boleslaus) – brother and murderer of Wenceslaus – became the duke of Bohemia.
A few decades after Wenceslas’ death, there were stories of miraculous happenings in and around Saint Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. The cathedral housed the remains of Saint Wenceslaus. Starting in the late 10thcentury, the mention of Wenceslaus frequently elicited enormous reverence and admiration. Also, the Cult of Wenceslaus flourished a...
The famous Wenceslaus Square in Prague, Czech, features a life-size equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslaus. The square also has other patrons of Bohemia, such as – St. Adalbert, St. Ludmila, St. Prokop and St. Agnes of Bohemia. Over the years, the square has served as a lively spot for numerous social events, as well as a vibrant place for demonstra...
By Tracy A. Burns. Good Duke Wenceslas. The first Czech saint and the patron saint of the Czech state, Wenceslas (Václav in Czech) served as duke of Bohemia from 921 until his death in 929 or 935. Though he died young, this martyr’s accomplishments were many.
In the years following his assassination, his reputation as a pious and benevolent ruler grew, and he was soon venerated as a martyr and a saint. The Catholic Church canonized him, and he became a symbol of Christian virtue and moral leadership.
Saint Wenceslaus epitomizes the supremacy of divine love over earthly allurements. His life, marked by devout prayer, resolute leadership, and boundless compassion—even towards adversaries – attests to the primacy of God’s love over the worldly pursuits of power, prestige, or wealth.
Sep 28, 2023 · Wenceslaus I is known by many titles: king, warrior, saint. Yet he is by far most popularly known as “Good King Wenceslas” in one of the most beloved Christmas carols of the 20th century....
See media help. " Good King Wenceslas " ( Roud number 24754) is a Christmas carol that tells a story of a Bohemian king (modern-day Czech Republic) who goes on a journey, braving harsh winter weather, to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the Second Day of Christmas ). During the journey, his page is about to give ...
