Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wenceslaus I (also Wenceslas, Venceslas, Wenzel, or Václáv, often called Wenceslaus of Bohemia in chronicles) (Prague, 25 February 1337Luxembourg, 7 December 1383) was the first Duke of Luxembourg from 1355. He was the son of John the Blind, King of Bohemia, and Beatrix of Bourbon.

In 1353 Charles I King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg entrusted the county, their father's inheritance, to his brother Wenceslaus. In 1355 when Charles was elected Holy Roman Emperor he raised Luxembourg to the status of a duchy. In 1352, Wenceslaus married Joanna (13221406), daughter of John III, Duke of Brabant and Limburg, and Marie d'Évreux. In 1355, Joanna inherited Brabant and Limburg. In order to guarantee the indivisibility of Brabant, Wenceslaus signed the Joyous Entry, but had to fight against his brother-in-law Louis II of Flanders, who asserted his share of the duchy. He failed to prevent the seizure of Brussels by the Flemings, but a certain Everard 't Serclaes succeeded by an audacious coup in driving them out of the city. Thereafter, Wenceslaus had to face primarily internal disorders. He died in Luxembourg and was succeeded by Antoine de Valois as duke of Brabant and by Wenceslaus II as duke of Luxembourg. There are speculations that he might have died of leprosy (Joanna stayed in Brussels). His last wish was his heart to be displaced from his dead body and sent to his wife.

Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg wrote troubadour poetry which were found by Auguste Longnon in Jean Froissart's Méliador in 1890s (Wenceslas was a maecenas of this chronicler). It comprises 79 poems (11 ballades, 16 virelais, 52 rondeaux)

Preceded by
Charles
Duke of Luxembourg
13531383
Succeeded by
Wenceslaus II
Preceded by
John III
Duke of Brabant
13551383
Succeeded by
Anthony