Spytihněv II, Duke of Bohemia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spytihněv II |
|
|---|---|
Duke Spytihněv with mitre and lance, contemporary depiction in the Svatovítská apokalypsa (Apocalypse of Saint Vitus) manuscript, 11th century
|
|
| Duke of Bohemia | |
| Reign | January 1055 – 28 January 1061 |
| Predecessor | Bretislav I |
| Successor | Vratislaus II |
| Born | 1031 |
| Died | 28 January 1061 (aged 30) |
| Spouse | Ida of Wettin Krešimir III Croatia daughter Barbara |
| Issue | not known (VuKhan) father from Mara |
| Dynasty | Přemyslid |
| Father | Bretislav I |
| Mother | Judith of Schweinfurt |
Spytihněv II (born in 1031, died January 28, 1061) was an important ruler from the Přemyslid dynasty. He served as the Duke of Bohemia from 1055 until his death in 1061.
Early Life and Becoming Duke
Spytihněv was the oldest son of Duke Bretislav I and Judith of Schweinfurt. When he was young, his father had disagreements with King Henry III of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of this, Spytihněv spent several years living at the German royal court.
When his father passed away in 1055, Spytihněv became the new Duke of Bohemia. His coronation was a special event. It included the first known performance of Hospodine pomiluj ny. This is the oldest known song in the Czech language.
After becoming duke, Spytihněv quickly traveled to Regensburg. He went there to get official approval from the Holy Roman Emperor.
His Time as Duke
Even though he showed loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire, Spytihněv made some big changes. A writer from that time, Cosmas of Prague, said that Spytihněv sent all Germans out of his lands. This included his own mother, Judith. This new policy against Germans continued throughout his rule.
In 1056, Spytihněv also had all the monks leave Sazava Abbey. Despite this, Pope Nicholas II wanted to form an alliance with him in 1059. The Pope allowed Spytihněv to wear special clothes, like a bishop's hat (mitre) and tunic. For this privilege, Spytihněv had to pay 100 marks each year.
Spytihněv's brothers had inherited parts of Moravia. Spytihněv tried to reduce their power. He arrested 300 important people from Moravia. He also took away his brothers' rights in the region. Because of this, his brother Vratislaus of Olomouc fled to Hungary in 1058.
Spytihněv died in 1061 at the age of 30. His brother Vratislaus then became the next Duke of Bohemia. Vratislaus later gave control of Moravia to their other brother, Conrad.
Family Life
Around 1054, Spytihněv married Ida of Wettin. She was the daughter of Margrave Theodoric II of Lusatia.
They had one known child:
- Svatobor (also called Friedrich). He became the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1084. Sadly, he was murdered shortly after, on February 23, 1086.
