Wenceslaus I of Bohemia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wenceslaus I |
|
|---|---|
| King of Bohemia | |
| Reign | 15 December 1230 – 23 September 1253 |
| Predecessor | Ottokar I |
| Successor | Ottokar II |
| Born | c. 1205 Kingdom of Bohemia |
| Died | 23 September 1253 (aged c. 48) Králův Dvůr, Kingdom of Bohemia |
| Spouse | Kunigunde of Swabia |
| Issue more... |
Vladislaus, Margrave of Moravia Ottokar II, King of Bohemia Beatrice, Margravine of Brandenburg |
| Dynasty | Přemyslid |
| Father | Ottokar I of Bohemia |
| Mother | Constance of Hungary |
Wenceslaus I (Václav I.), also known as One-Eyed, was the King of Bohemia from 1230 to 1253. He was born around 1205 and passed away on September 23, 1253.
Wenceslaus was the son of Ottokar I of Bohemia and his second wife, Constance of Hungary. He was an important ruler who helped shape Bohemia during his time.
Contents
Family Life and Children
In 1224, Wenceslaus married Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen. She was the daughter of Philip of Swabia, who was the King of Germany.
Wenceslaus encouraged many German people to move to villages and towns in Bohemia and Moravia. Because of these new settlers, stone buildings started to replace wooden ones in Prague.
Wenceslaus and Kunigunde had five children:
- Vladislaus III of Moravia (born around 1228 – died 1247)
- Ottokar II of Bohemia (born around 1230 – died 1278)
- Beatrice (born around 1231 – died 1290), who married Otto III of Brandenburg
- Agnes (died 1268), who married Henry III of Meissen
- A daughter who passed away when she was young
Becoming King and Early Challenges
On February 6, 1228, Wenceslaus was crowned as a co-ruler with his father in the Kingdom of Bohemia. This meant they ruled together. When his father, Ottokar, died on December 15, 1230, Wenceslaus became the main King of Bohemia.
Early in his rule, Wenceslaus faced a big challenge from Frederick II, Duke of Austria. Frederick was trying to expand his lands, which worried many other rulers. In 1236, the Holy Roman Emperor, also named Frederick II, was fighting a war. He asked Wenceslaus and other rulers to send their soldiers to help him.
Wenceslaus and other princes did not want to send their troops away. They were afraid that the Duchy of Austria might attack their own lands. They asked the Emperor to step in and help with the situation.
In June 1236, the Emperor put a special punishment, called an imperial ban, on the Duke of Austria. Soldiers were sent against the Duke, forcing him to leave Vienna. He continued to rule a smaller part of his land for about a year. The Emperor then took direct control of Austria and Styria.
Wenceslaus was not happy about the Emperor taking more control so close to his borders. So, Wenceslaus and Duke Frederick of Austria formed an alliance against the Emperor. The Emperor decided to lift the ban in 1237. Wenceslaus was able to gain more land for Bohemia north of the Danube River. This land was given to him by Duke Frederick to keep their alliance strong.
Wenceslaus and Frederick also found another friend in Otto II, Duke of Bavaria. In June 1239, Wenceslaus and Otto left a big meeting, called the Reichstag, showing they no longer supported Emperor Frederick II.
The Mongol Invasion
In 1241, Wenceslaus successfully defended Bohemia from an attack by the Mongol Empire. The Mongols, led by generals like Batu Khan and Subutai, were invading parts of Europe.
The Mongols had raided Poland, Silesia, and Moravia, causing a lot of damage. They had about 20,000 soldiers.
During the Mongol invasion of Poland, Duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, who was Wenceslaus's brother-in-law, asked for help. Wenceslaus was on his way with 5,000 soldiers. However, Henry II attacked the Mongols too soon without waiting for Wenceslaus. This led to a terrible defeat for Henry at the Battle of Legnica.
After this Mongol victory, Wenceslaus went back to protect Bohemia. He gathered more soldiers from other areas. He then took shelter in Bohemia's mountains. The rough mountain land made it hard for the Mongol cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to move quickly. When a small group of Mongols attacked Kłodzko, the Bohemian cavalry easily defeated them in the mountain passes.
Because they failed against Wenceslaus's army, the Mongols turned away from Bohemia and Poland. They went south to join other Mongol forces in Hungary.
In 1242, the Mongol army retreated back to the east. This was because their leader, Grand Khan Ögedei, had died. All the princes of the Mongol royal family had to return to the capital city of Karakorum for a meeting to choose the next leader. Wenceslaus's success against the invaders was so great that people sent messages to Emperor Frederick II, praising his "victorious defense."
Gaining Austria for His Family
On June 15, 1246, Frederick II, Duke of Austria, died in a battle. His death meant the end of his family's rule in Austria. Who would rule Austria next became a big problem for many years. Wenceslaus wanted to gain Austria for his own family, the Přemyslid dynasty.
The Emperor tried to take direct control of Austria again. But there was a rebellion in Austria, which made it hard for the Emperor to fully control the land.
An old document, called the Privilegium Minus, said that women in the ruling family of Austria could also inherit the throne. So, Gertrude, Duchess of Austria, who was the niece of the late Duke Frederick II, claimed the Duchy. Wenceslaus arranged for her to marry his oldest son, Vladislaus. Vladislaus was then called the Duke of Austria because of his marriage. He gained the support of some Austrian nobles. However, Vladislaus suddenly died on January 3, 1247. This ruined Wenceslaus's first plan. Gertrude then married another ruler.
The Rebellion and Later Years
In 1248, Wenceslaus faced a rebellion from the nobles in Bohemia. His own son, Ottokar II, led this rebellion. Some unhappy nobles convinced Ottokar to lead them. During this time, Ottokar was called "the younger King." Wenceslaus managed to defeat the rebels and put his son in prison. Ottokar II held the title of King of Bohemia for a short time, from July 1248 to November 1249.
By the end of 1250, both the Emperor and Gertrude's second husband had died. Wenceslaus then successfully invaded Austria in 1251. He released Ottokar II and made him the Margrave of Moravia. Wenceslaus then had Ottokar declared Duke of Austria, and the nobles accepted him.
To make sure his family had a strong claim to Austria, Wenceslaus arranged another marriage for his son. Margaret, Duchess of Austria, was the sister of the late Duke Frederick II and Gertrude's aunt. She was also much older than Ottokar. Their marriage happened on February 11, 1252.
Wenceslaus did not get to enjoy his victory for very long. He died on September 23, 1253. His son, Ottokar II, then became the new King.
Wenceslaus I's Legacy
During Wenceslaus I's rule, the royal court in Bohemia became more like courts in Western Europe. People enjoyed activities like jousting tournaments and courtly poetry and songs.
His government helped strengthen the Czech state. It also increased Bohemia's political influence in Europe. The Czech nobility became more powerful, and cities, trade, and crafts continued to grow.
Like his father and son, Wenceslaus supported Germans moving into the country. He was also the first ruler to give special rights to Jewish people. However, they had to pay a lot of money for these rights.
Cities Founded by Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus I helped found or develop several important cities:
