Wenceslaus I of Bohemia

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Wenceslaus I Premyslid (Czech Václav I.) (c. 1205 – September 23, 1253) was King of Bohemia from 1230 to 1253.

Wenceslaus was the son of Ottokar I of Bohemia and Konstancia of Hungary. His maternal grandparents were Béla III of Hungary and his second wife Agnes of Antioch (Agnes de Châtillon), a daughter of Raynald of Chatillon and Constance of Antioch (joint princes of Antioch).

He married Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen, daughter of Philip of Swabia, King of Germany and Irene Angelina. He encouraged large numbers of Germans to settle in the villages and towns in Bohemia and Moravia. Stone buildings began to replace wooden ones in Pragueas a result of the influence of the new settlers.

In 1241 Wenceslaus successfully repelled a raid on Bohemia by Batu Khan. The Mongols did not sent the main army to Poland, Bohemia and Silesia and only Moravia suffered devastation at their hands. The raid on Bohemia was carried out by a force of around 20,000 mongols. Despite their smaller numbers and eventual defeat, the Mongols inflicted heavy losses on the european for which comprised the elite of 13th century chivalry including Knight Templars, Teutonic knights, Hospitallers and mounted Polish heavy knights.

In 1248 Wenceslaus had to deal with a rebellion of the nobility, led by his son Ottakar. The rebellion was quelled and Ottakar imprisoned.

Wenceslaus' foreign policy was focused on acquiring the neighbouring Duchy of Austria, which had been without a ruler since the death of Duke Frederick II in 1246. To achieve his aim, Wenceslaus arranged a marriage of his first born son and heir Vladislaus with the last Duke's niece Gertrud. Vladislaus received the homage of the Austrian nobility, but died shortly afterwards. Gertrude was swiftly married to Herman VI, Margrave of Baden, who now claimed the Duchy. However, since Hermann was rejected by the Austrian estates and could not establish his rule in Austria, Wenceslaus invaded Austria in 1250 - according to some sources, the estates called him in to restore order.

Wenceslaus now released his second son Ottakar and in 1251 made him margrave of Moravia and, installed him, with the approval of the Austrian nobles, as governor of Austria. Ottakar entered Austria, where the estates acclaimed him as Duke. To legitimize his position, Ottakar married the late Duke's sister Margaret, who was his senior by thirty years, in February 1252.

In 1253, King Wenceslaus died and was succeeded by Ottakar.

[edit] Family

Wenceslaus was married to Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen, who gave birth to the following children:

Vladislaus (Vladislav Přemyslovec) (1227-January 3, 1247), Margrave of Moravia, claimant to the Duchies of Austria and Styria 1246/47
Přemysl Otakar II (1233-August 26, 1278), Margrave of Moravia 1251-1278, King of Bohemia 1253-1278, Duke of Austria 1251/1260-1278.
Beatrix (Božena) (d. May 25, 1270), married to Otto III, Margrave of Brandenburg
Agnes (Anežka) (d. October 10, 1268)
unnamed daughter