History of Bohemia Part II - Přemysl and His Dynasty

This is a story of legends, visions, saints, kingdoms and hazel nuts.

Premyslid Coat of Arms, the Flaming Black Eagle

The history of Bohemia continues. I promise that there will a point to the history as it relates to Bohemian and our family's immigration to America.

After fall of Rome, the Celts intermixed with Slavish tribes of Eastern Europe and Europe fell into the Dark Ages. Czech national identity and Czech statehood arose during the emergence from the Dark Ages. Just like the King Arthur and the rise of British identity began with Dark Age legend, so too it does with the Czechs. The beginning of the Czech people begins with the legend of Přemysl and Princess Libuše. 

The Chronica Boëmorum, written in Latin by Cosmas, a priest from Prague, in the 12th century, gives us the story. It describes the first inhabitants of Bohemia as a people who lived very simply and did not know alcohol, marriages, private property or weapons. However, as time passed, they came to embrace injustice and envy. But the people had "neither a judge nor a prince". So, Krok, the first judge, rose amongst the people. According to Cosmas, Krok was "a man known for his age, absolutely perfect, rich, worldly in his judgements, and sophisticated" (would you believe my teenagers describe me exactly the same way!?). Cosmos continues "this wonderful man had no male heirs, but rather three daughters, whom nature had granted the treasure of wisdom". Princess Libuse was one of his daughters. Libuse had the gift of prophesy and she is said to have pointed to the hill that would become Prague and prophesized "I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars."

Přemysl and Princess Libuše statue

As a princess, Libuse was required to married a nobleman but none caught her fancy. Instead she came to love a common plowman named Premysl. But how could a princess marry a farmer? Well she did what any forlorn lover would do. Told her elders that she had a vision. They were to let loose a horse and follow it to her future husband who would be (depending on the version) ploughing a field with a broken sandal or sitting under the shade of a tree eating from an iron table (i.e. his plough). When Libuse's men did so, they found Premysl exactly as the vision foretold. Premysl was brought back to Libuse's palace and the two were married. 

Unfortunately, Premysl didn't finish plowing his field which plunged the land into famine. He did plant his staff into the ground as he left the field which grew into a tree that continued to grow. Because of this the inhabitants of the neighboring town were given a grant exempting them from taxes, except for a pint of hazel nuts each year, a tradition which continued into the reign of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor in the 14th century, from whom no less than Pope Pius II claimed to have seen a charter renewing the exemption.

The Legacy of Libuše and Přemysl, the Ploughman by František Žemišek

And now that you know the story of Libuse and Premysl, I would like to offer you a chance to buy the t-shirt. I think I can 100% guarantee that you will be the first kid on your block to have one!

Legend aside, history shows that the House of Přemysl, also called the Přemyslid ('PRAY-miss-lid') dynasty, was the first Czech ruling house. It ruled Bohemia and the lands associated with it from about 800 to 1306. The first historically documented member was Bořivoj I, who lived at first in the town of Levý Hradec and later moved to Prague where he began construction of the Prague Castle, where his descendants would rule from for centuries and today is the most visited site in Prague. Christianity arrived to Bohemia during this period. Borivoj I is said to have been converted to Christianity by Saint Methodius and St. Cyril in the 9th century. 

Bohemia was consolidated politically in the 10th century and was considered a Duchy. It was thus ruled by a series of dukes. The best known of its rulers at this time was Borivoj’s grandson, Wenceslas I, whose true story is legendary (see what I did there!)

Wenceslas' story would make for a good episode of Game of Thrones. Wenceslas' father, Vratislaus, who was credited with the establishment of St. George's Basilica at Prague Castle, was killed in battle. Wenceslas was only thirteen and not ready to assume the duties of Duke so his saintly grandmother,  Ludmila, became his regent and meanwhile continued to rear Wencelas as a Christian. This did not set well with Wenceslas' pagan mother, Drahomira. So mommy dearest had grandma,Ludmila killed, reputedly by having her strangled with her own prayer veil. Drahomira then became regent and set about persecuting Christians.

When Wenceslas turned eighteen, he and some of the remaining Christian nobility forced Drahomira into exhile. Wenceslas became duke and reigned from 921 to 935. During his time, he expanded Christianity, founded St. Vitus rotunda at Prague Castle that was the basis for the present-day St. Vitus Cathedral, forged alliances, fought battles, dealt with restive nobles, and attended to other duties fit for a duke in that age. Eventually, it all came to a dastardly end. Wenceslas was reputedly killed by younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel. Boleslav invited Wenceslaus to a celebration of the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian during which three of Boleslav's cronies attacked and stabbed Wenceslas to death. As the duke fell, Boleslav ran him through with a lance. The final twist in the tale is that Wenceslas supposedly tried to escape his brother by entering a church but was shut out.

Wenceslas flees from his brother — as the church closes its door 

History was kind to Wenceslas but not to Boleslav (Although he did get to reign as duke for 30 years. So there's that). Wenceslas was canonized as a saint and martyr by Pope Pius II and became patron saint of Bohemia. He was posthumously raised from duke to king by Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I. He has his own Christmas carol. And perhaps most impressively of all, he has a Bing Crosby Youtube video.

Even now King Wenceslas, mounted on a horse, stands guard over Wenceslas Square. An enduring legend claims an army of knights sleeps under Blaník, a mountain in the Czech Republic. When the Motherland is in danger or in its darkest times and close to ruin, the equestrian statue of King Wenceslas will come to life, raise the army sleeping in Blaník, and upon crossing the Charles Bridge his horse will stumble and trip over a stone, revealing the legendary sword of Bruncvík. With this sword, King Wenceslas will slay all the enemies of the Czechs, bringing peace and prosperity to the land.

King Wencelas statue

At the start in the 9th century, the Přemyslids ruled a tiny territory around Prague. Initially, familial disputes and feuds among the Přemyslids hindered Bohemia’s political development for more than one hundred years, the chief source of discord being the absence of any strict law of succession to the Bohemian throne. However, when succession was better settled, the dynasty's territory would grow over the next 400 years into the Kingdom of Bohemia that was to become a significant regional power and ally to the Holy Roman Emperor. At its height in the 14th century it stretched from the Baltics to the Adriatic and included modern Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Latvia. Some of the prominent members of the Premyslid's include:

Duke Vratislaus I (reigned 915-921), Wencelas' father, who is credited with the establishment of St. George's Basilica at Prague Castle.

Duke Boleslav II (reigned 967–999) who allowed the Christian church in Bohemia to be organized and a bishopric  founded in Prague.

King Ottokar I (reigned 1198) who succeeded in having the Duchy of Bohemia raised to the Kingdom of Bohemia after extracting a Golden Bull of Sicily (a formal edict) from the emperor Frederick II, confirming the royal title for Ottokar and his descendants which indicated the importance of Bohemia with the larger central European empire.

King Wencelas I (reigned 1230-1253) (not to be confused with Good King Wencelas) who successfully repelled an attempted invasion of Bohemia by Mongol forces as part of the Mongol invasion of Europe. 

King Přemysl Ottokar II (reigned 1253-1278) who was nicknamed the "Iron and Golden King" because of his military power and wealth.

Eventually, though lack of a male successor ended the Premysl's line and the House of Luxembourg laid claim to the Bohemian lands through King Charles IV who would go on to be the Holy Roman Emperor. More about that in a later post.

That is the story of the historical and mythical origins of our Czech national identity. Reading of  legends, myths, and saints has left with me with one glorious vision. I see a horse... that leads me through a field... to find an iron table suitable for a prince... whereupon sits... with a broken sandal... an accountant who can reduce my taxes to a pint of hazel nuts. One can always dream.