Rudolf I of Bohemia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rudolf I |
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Rudolf's effigy on a seal
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| King of Bohemia | |
| Reign | 1306 – 3/4 July 1307 |
| Predecessor | Wenceslaus III |
| Successor | Henry |
| Duke of Austria and Styria | |
| Reign | 21 November 1298 – 3/4 July 1307 |
| Predecessor | Albert I |
| Successor | Albert I |
| Born | c. 1281 |
| Died | 3/4 July 1307 (aged 26) Horažďovice, Bohemia |
| Burial | St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague |
| Spouse | Blanche of France Elisabeth Richeza |
| House | Habsburg |
| Father | Albert I of Germany |
| Mother | Elizabeth of Carinthia |
Rudolf I (born around 1282 – died 3 or 4 July 1307) was an important member of the House of Habsburg. He was the King of Bohemia and also held the title of King of Poland from 1306 until his death. Before that, he was also the Duke of Austria (known as Rudolf III) and Styria starting in 1298.
Early Life of Rudolf I
Rudolf was the oldest son of Duke Albert I of Austria. His mother was Elizabeth of Gorizia-Tyrol. This made him the grandson of King Rudolf I of Germany.
In 1298, his father, Albert I, became the King of Germany. Albert then made Rudolf, who was only sixteen, a co-ruler. This meant Rudolf helped manage the family's lands in Austria. He also acted as a regent for his younger brothers, Frederick the Fair and Leopold I. A regent is someone who rules for a king or queen who is too young or unable to rule.
In 1300, King Albert I arranged for Rudolf to marry Blanche. She was the daughter of King Philip III of France. Sadly, their children died young, and Blanche herself passed away in 1305.
Rudolf joined his father on a trip in 1304. They went against King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Wenceslaus II had placed his son, Wenceslaus III, on the throne of Hungary. This happened after the Árpád dynasty ended in 1301.
Becoming King of Bohemia
A new chance for the Habsburg family to gain power came in 1306. King Wenceslaus III, the last ruler from the Přemyslid dynasty in Bohemia, was killed. Rudolf's father, Albert I, was able to claim the kingdom. He said it was an escheated fief, meaning it returned to the king because there were no direct heirs.
Rudolf was then given the Bohemian throne. However, his uncle, Duke Henry of Carinthia, disagreed. Henry was married to Wenceslaus' sister, Anne. Some Bohemian nobles chose Henry as their king instead.
King Albert I then declared Henry an outlaw and marched his army towards Prague. Henry fled to Bavaria and then back to his home in Carinthia. To make the Habsburg claim stronger, Albert arranged for Rudolf to marry Elizabeth Richeza of Poland. She was the widow of King Wenceslaus II.
Some Bohemian nobles did not like Rudolf. They called him král kaše, which means "king porridge." This was because he was very careful with money. He wanted to control the silver mines at Kutná Hora. This led to a rebellion by the House of Strakonice.
Rudolf's army surrounded the rebel fortress of Horažďovice. But during the siege, Rudolf became very sick. He died at the camp on the night of July 3 or 4, 1307. He was likely suffering from a stomach illness.
Since Rudolf had no children, the Habsburg family's first attempt to gain the Crown of Saint Wenceslas failed. The Bohemian nobles brought Henry back as king. Later, Henry gave up the throne to Count John of Luxembourg. Rudolf's death also made problems within the Habsburg family. This led to King Albert I being killed by his nephew in 1308. Rudolf is buried at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
Images for kids
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Rudolf's effigy on a seal
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Rudolf III of Habsburg
