John I of Bohemia
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John the Blind (Luxembourgish: Jang de Blannen; German: Johann der Blinde von Luxemburg; Czech: Jan Lucemburský) (10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346) was the Count of Luxembourg from 1309, King of Bohemia, and titular King of Poland from 1310. He was the eldest son of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII and his wife Margaret of Brabant.
John was French by education, but deeply involved in the politics of Germany. In 1310, John married Elisabeth, heiress of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, and thereby became King of Bohemia and so one of the seven prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. The object of the hostility of the Czech nobility, however, he gave up the administration of Bohemia and embarked on a life of travel, spending time in Luxembourg and the French court. His travels took him to Silesia, Poland, Lithuania, Tyrol, Northern Italy, Papal Avignon, and Languedoc, where he was governor from 30 November 1338 to November 1340. He lost his eyesight from ophthalmia, while crusading in Lithuania with the Teutonic order.
He retained his crown even after Elisabeth's death in 1330. His second wife was Beatrice, daughter of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon.
He was killed fighting alongside the French against the English at the Battle of Crécy, part of the Hundred Years' War. The chronicler Froissart left the following account of John's last actions:
| “ | . . . for all that he was nigh blind, when he understood the order of the battle, he said to them about him: 'Where is the lord Charles my son?' His men said: 'Sir, we cannot tell; we think he be fighting.' Then he said: 'Sirs, ye are my men, my companions and friends in this journey: I require you bring me so far forward, that I may strike one stroke with my sword.' They said they would do his commandment, and to the intent that they should not lose him in the press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each to other and set the king before to accomplish his desire, and so they went on their enemies. The lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who wrote himself king of Almaine and bare the arms, he came in good order to the battle; but when he saw that the matter went awry on their party, he departed, I cannot tell you which way. The king his father was so far forward that he strake a stroke with his sword, yea and more than four, and fought valiantly and so did his company; and they adventured themselves so forward, that they were there all slain, and the next day they were found in the place about the king, and all their horses tied each to other. | ” |
After the battle, John's personal crest (a pair of black wings) and motto Ich Dien ("I Serve") were adopted in slightly modified form by Edward, the Black Prince, and since then they have been part of the badge of the reigning Prince of Wales.
John was succeeded as King of Bohemia by his eldest son Charles (later Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor). In Luxembourg, he was succeeded by his son by his second wife, Wenceslaus.
[edit] Family and children
He was married two times:
First, to Elizabeth I of Bohemia. In this marriage he had the following children:
- Margaret (8 July 1313–11 July 1341, Prague), married in Straubing 12 August 1328 to Henry XIV, Duke of Bavaria.
- Bonne (21 May 1315–11 September 1349, Maubuisson), married in Melun 6 August 1332 to King John II of France.
- Charles IV (14 May 1316–29 November 1378), King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor.
- Ottokar ("Otto") (22 November 1318–20 April 1320), Prince of Bohemia.
- John Henry (Jan Jindrich) (12 February 1322, Mělník–12 November 1375), Margrave of Moravia.
- Anna (1323–3 September 1338), twin of Elizabeth, married 16 February 1335 to Otto, Duke of Austria.
- Elizabeth (1323–1324), twin of Anna.
Second (December 1334), to Beatrix of Bourbon, daughter of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon. This marriage produced two children:
- Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg (25 February 1337, Prague–7 December 1383, Luxembourg), Duke of Luxembourg and Brabant.
- Bonne
| Henry V of Luxembourg |
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Margaret of Bar |
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Baldwin of Avesnes |
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Félicité of Coucy |
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Henry III, Duke of Brabant |
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Louis II of Flanders |
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Beatrice of Avesnes |
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John I, Duke of Brabant |
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Margaret of Flanders |
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Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor |
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Margaret of Brabant |
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John I of Bohemia |
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[edit] References
- The Chronicles of Froissart, translated by Lord Berners, edited by G.C. Macaulay. The Harvard Classics. [1]
| Preceded by Henry of Carinthia |
King of Bohemia 1310–1346 |
Succeeded by Charles I |
| Preceded by Henry VI |
Count of Luxemburg 1313–1346 |
