Wenceslaus II of Bohemia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wenceslaus II |
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Portrayal in Codex Manesse
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| King of Bohemia | |
| Reign | 26 August 1278 – 21 June 1305 |
| Coronation | 2 June 1297, Prague |
| Predecessor | Ottokar II |
| Successor | Wenceslaus III |
| King of Poland | |
| Reign | 1300–1305 |
| Coronation | 25 July 1300, Gniezno |
| Predecessor | Przemysl II |
| Successor | Wenceslaus III |
| Born | 27 September 1271 Prague, Bohemia |
| Died | 21 June 1305 (aged 33) Prague, Bohemia |
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| Dynasty | Přemyslid |
| Father | Ottokar II of Bohemia |
| Mother | Kunigunda of Slavonia |
Wenceslaus II Přemyslid (born September 27, 1271 – died June 21, 1305) was an important ruler in Central Europe. He was the King of Bohemia from 1278 to 1305. He also became the Duke of Cracow in 1291 and the King of Poland in 1300, ruling both until his death.
Wenceslaus II was the only son of King Ottokar II of Bohemia and his second wife, Kunigunda of Slavonia. He was part of the powerful Přemyslid dynasty. His rule helped Bohemia become one of the richest and most powerful kingdoms in Europe during his time.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Wenceslaus II faced many challenges from a young age. His father, King Ottokar II, was a very powerful ruler. However, in 1276, Rudolf I of Germany, the King of the Romans, declared Ottokar an enemy. This forced Ottokar to sign a treaty, giving up control of several lands and keeping only Bohemia and Moravia. As part of this peace, young Wenceslaus was promised to Rudolf's daughter, Judith.
A King's Childhood
The peace did not last long. Wenceslaus's father, Ottokar II, died in a big battle in 1278, just before Wenceslaus's seventh birthday. Because Wenceslaus was so young, a relative named Otto V, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel took charge of the government. Otto V reportedly kept Wenceslaus in different places, almost like a prisoner.
Wenceslaus finally returned to Bohemia in 1283 when he was twelve years old. For a few years, his mother's second husband, Záviš of Falkenštejn, ruled in his place.
Taking Control of His Kingdom
In 1285, Wenceslaus married Judith of Habsburg, the daughter of Rudolf I, just as they had been promised years before. By 1290, Wenceslaus decided it was time to rule on his own. He had Záviš executed for disloyalty and took full control of his kingdom.
Becoming King of Bohemia and Poland
Wenceslaus II greatly expanded his power and influence. In 1291, Przemysł II, who was the High Duke of Poland, gave the important Duchy of Kraków to Wenceslaus. Kraków was seen as the main city of Poland.
Przemysł II later became King of Poland in 1295. But after Przemysł's death in 1296, Wenceslaus became the main ruler of Poland. In 1300, he was crowned King of Poland himself, uniting the crowns of Bohemia and Poland.
The Silver Riches of Kutná Hora
A major event during Wenceslaus's rule was the discovery of a huge amount of silver in 1298 at a place called Kutná Hora in Bohemia. This discovery made his kingdom incredibly wealthy.
Royal Control of Silver Mining
Wenceslaus quickly took control of the silver mines. He made silver production a royal monopoly, meaning only the king could control it. He also created a new coin called the Prague groschen. This coin became very popular and was used across Europe for a long time.
The Kutná Hora mine was one of the richest silver finds ever in Europe. Between 1300 and 1340, it might have produced as much as 20 tons of silver each year!
New Mining Laws
To manage this wealth, Wenceslaus created a new set of laws for mining in 1300. This document, called Ius regale montanorum, explained all the rules for running the mines and producing silver. It was a very important legal text for mining.
Claiming the Crown of Hungary and His Death
Wenceslaus's first wife, Queen Judith, died in 1297. He later married Elisabeth Richeza, who was the daughter of the Polish King Przemysł II.
A Bid for the Hungarian Throne
In 1301, the King of Hungary, Andrew III of Hungary, died without a male heir. This meant his family line ended. Wenceslaus II was a relative and claimed the Hungarian throne for his young son, also named Wenceslaus. His son was already engaged to Andrew's only child, Elizabeth.
On August 27, 1301, Wenceslaus's son was crowned King of Hungary. However, Hungary was divided, and not everyone accepted the young Wenceslaus as king. Some powerful Hungarian lords switched their support to another claimant, Charles Robert of Anjou.
Because of this, young Wenceslaus felt unsafe in Hungary. He asked his father for help. Wenceslaus II went to Hungary with a large army. After seeing the situation, he decided to bring his son and the Hungarian crown back to Bohemia in 1304.
The End of a Reign
Wenceslaus II died on June 21, 1305, when he was only 33 years old. He likely died from tuberculosis. His son, Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, took over as king. However, Wenceslaus III was the last king from the Přemyslid family.
Wenceslaus II's Legacy
Wenceslaus II is remembered as one of the most important Czech Kings. He built a large empire that stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Danube river. He also founded many new cities, like Plzeň in 1295.
He managed to gain three royal crowns for his family: Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland. During his time, the Kingdom of Bohemia was the biggest producer of silver in Europe. The Prague penny coin he created was an important currency for centuries.
His reign saw a lot of growth in cities and towns. He even planned to build the first university in Central Europe. The power and wealth of Bohemia under Wenceslaus II earned great respect, but also made other European royal families jealous. Sadly, his son, Wenceslaus III, could not keep the large empire together, and it began to fall apart soon after Wenceslaus II's early death.
Family Life
In 1285, Wenceslaus married Judith of Habsburg. They had many children together:
- Wenceslaus III (born 1289), who became King of Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland.
- Anne (born 1290), who married Henry of Carinthia.
- Elisabeth (born 1292), who married John of Luxembourg.
- Margaret (born 1296), who married Bolesław III the Generous.
- Other children who died young.
In 1300, he married his second wife, Elisabeth Richeza. They had one child:
- Agnes (born 1305), who married Henry I of Jawor.
Images for kids
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Seal of Wenceslaus II
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Coat of arms of Wenceslaus II (Kingdom of Bohemia)
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Coat of arms of Wenceslaus II (Margraviate of Moravia)
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See also
In Spanish: Wenceslao II de Bohemia para niños
