Spytihněv I, Duke of Bohemia

Spytihněv I. (* 875, † 915 ) was a Duke of Bohemia from the Přemyslovci.

Life

Spytihněv was the son of Duke Bořivoj I. and his wife Ludmilla. Upon the death of his father by 889 he was about 13 years old, and thus not capable of governing. The rule in Bohemia took over the Moravian Knjas Svatopluk I. It was not until after his death in 894 was followed Spytihněv his father as Duke after. He was already 895 at a distance Mährerreich, under whose domination of Bohemia had until then, and swore allegiance to the Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia loyalty. In his reign probably fall agreement with the nomadic people of Hungary, Bohemia preserved prior to their ideas and allowed a consolidation of the rule in the region around Prague. Thus the principality joined the successor of Great Moravia as the most important power in Bohemia.

On the border of his territory, he built new castles that have been managed directly by the Přemyslovci. In the north it was Melnik, in the northwest Libušín, southwest arose Tetín, in the southeast it was Lštění and finally in the northeast Boleslav. Also, the seat of power Hradcany was provided with fortified walls, the castle grew, the city of Prague. These fortifications served not only as a protection against invasions of foreign nations, but also had a political and economic function. They were the origin of the administrative area, which Boleslav I continued to expand later. Some castles were employed administrators who then exacted the taxes and the church organization managed. The churches in the castles are the oldest religious buildings in the country. Spytihněv and his brother and successor Vratislav I contented themselves with this field and showed itself also no further expansion thoughts. So you dominated central Bohemia, where, however, were still more princely houses which, although had their own castles, but no government. But even these numbers declined. Goods 845 14 Prince still known, the number of important families went to 895 on two back, according to current historiography a testimony to the centralization in Bohemia end of the 9th century.

Spytihněv ruled until 915 Although it is hardly reported in the historical writings about him, the modern historical research assumes that he was the founder of the State of Přemyslids in Central Bohemia. Spytihněvs was succeeded by his younger brother Vratislav I..