Strachkvas

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Strachkvas (Kristián) (28 Sep. 929, Prague - 996, Prague) -

Prince of Bohemia, son of Boleslav I and brother of Boleslav II, member of the Přemyslid dynasty. A clergyman, he finally became the Bishop of Prague but died during consecration.

Strachkvas was born during a feast where his father committed a fratricide (of Wenceslaus), which resulted in his becoming a Duke. Being remorseful of what had happened, Boleslav gave his newborn son a strange name "Strachkvas", which meant "a dreadful feast". He promised to devote his son to religion and educate him as a clergyman, and kept his word.

According to Cosmas' chronicle, in 994 St. Adalbert offered his episcopal see to Strachkvas, explaining that Strachkvas came from the Přemyslids, and it would be easy for him to bend people in his will. Strachkvas, nevertheless, rejected to accept the post. However, in 995 when Adalbert's family was massacred and he left Prague, Strachkvas was appointed to be his successor. When he was going to assume the bishop office in Prague, he suddenly died during the ceremony itself. Circumstances of his death are still unclear.