Ludmila of Bohemia

Saint Ludmila
Saint Ludmila
Saint and Martyr
Born	c. 860 Mělník
Died	September 15, 921(921-09-15) Tetín castle
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	shortly after her death
Major shrine	Chapel of St. Ludmila
Feast	September 18
Attributes	veil
Patronage	Bohemia

Saint Ludmila (c. 860 – September 15, 921) is a Czech saint and martyr venerated by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics. She was born in Mělník as daughter of a Slavic prince Slavibor. Saint Ludmila was the grandmother of Saint Wenceslaus, who is widely referred to as Good King Wenceslaus.

Contents 1 Marriage 2 Ludmila and Drahomíra 3 See also 4 References

Marriage

Ludmila was married to Bořivoj I of Bohemia, who was the first Christian Duke of Bohemia. The couple was converted to Christianity around 871, probably through the efforts of Saints Cyril and Methodius.^[1] Their efforts to convert Bohemia to Christianity were initially not well received, and they were driven from their country for a time by the pagans. Eventually the couple returned, and ruled for several years before retiring to Tetín, near Beroun.

The couple was succeeded by their son Spytihněv, who ruled for two years before he died. Spytihněv was succeeded by his brother Vratislav. When Vratislav died in 921, his son Wenceslas became the next ruler of Bohemia. It had been mainly Ludmila who raised her grandson and she now acted as regent for him.

Ludmila and Drahomíra

Wenceslaus' mother Drahomíra became jealous of Ludmila's influence over Wenceslaus. She had two noblemen murder Ludmila at Tetín, and part of Ludmila's story says that she was strangled with her veil. Initially Saint Ludmila was buried at St. Michael's at Tetín. Sometime before the year 1100 her remains were removed to the church of St. George at Prague.

Saint Ludmila is venerated as a patroness of Bohemia. Her feast day is celebrated on September 18. She is considered to be a patron saint of Bohemia, converts, Czech Republic, duchesses, problems with in-laws, and widows. She was canonized shortly after her death.

See also

• St. George's Basilica, Prague
• House of Přemysl
• Bohemia

References

• Pekar, J., Die Wenzels- und Ludmilla-Legenden und die Echtheit Christians (Prag, 1906).
• Christianus Monachus, "Vita et Passio sancti Venceslai et sanctae Ludmilae avae eius," in Magnae Moraviae Fontes Historici (Brno, 1967), 186-199.
• Ingham, N. W., "The Lost Church Slavonic Life of Saint Ludmila," in Studia Slavica Mediaevalia et Himanistica. Riccardo Piccio dicata. T. 1-2 (Roma, 1986), 349-360.

Royal titles
Preceded by -	Duchess consort of Bohemia ca. 874–888/891	Succeeded by Drahomíra

Persondata
Name	Ludmila Of Bohemia
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	860
Place of birth	Mělník
Date of death	September 15, 0921
Place of death	Tetín castle