Wenceslaus I of Bohemia
Wenceslas I Přemysl ( Czech Václav I. Jednooký; * 1205, † September 23, 1253 in Počaply ) came from the dynasty of Přemyslids and was from 1230 to 1253 King of Bohemia.
Life
Wenzel was the son of King Otakar II of Bohemia Přemysl and Constance, daughter of Béla III. , King of Hungary.
His father was the son of 1228 already crowned king. After descriptions of the historian Palacky (see below ), he was an avid hunter, talented and energetic, but also fond of the luxurious life on the other side. On a hunt he lost an eye. This earned him the nickname ' jednooký ' - a one-eyed.
After his installation as king, he continued the policy of Premyzslids. He promoted the settlement of Germans in order to modernize agriculture and to give impetus to mining. In addition, under his rule began a wave of urban and monastic foundations, especially the Cistercian order. He founded, among others, the cities Trautenau, snakes and mussels. Funded by its growing wealth, he organized jousting tournaments, organized his German Ritter Holger von Friedberg. At the royal court, numerous minstrel held on, supposedly to have occurred von der Vogelweide Walther also there.
One of his first tasks as a statesman, he ended the fight with the last Austrian Babenberg, Duke Frederick. This repudiated his wife Sophie, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor and sister of the Hungarian king, because of childlessness. Wenzel's mother, who came from Hungary, it felt as insult, and Wenzel took the opportunity to invade in 1230 in Austria. Frederick again took advantage of the dispute between Wenzel and his younger brother Přemysl of Moravia and invaded Moravia. He occupied it at that time regarded as impregnable castle Bítov. Wenzel, who was with his army in the area, it did not intervene. When Frederick became ill and retired to Austria, Wenzel took advantage of the opportunity and conquered Brno. The escalating dispute eventually led to the Emperor Frederick II over the Austrians imposed the imperial ban and Wenzel instructed to get him to obey. Wenzel conquered Lower Austria and Vienna, Frederick withdrew to Wiener Neustadt. The concern of the princes of the empire, that the growing power of the emperor could weaken theirs, led to political meetings that culminated in a peace between Wenzel and Duke of Austria. Frederick betrothed his niece Gertrud with Wenceslas son Vladislav. As a dowry of Böhme received the Austrian administration north of the Danube.
1241 Mongols under Batu Khan fell after the battle of Wahlstatt in Moravia. Wenzel they could drive though, but the damage was great by the incident. 1242 Wenzel was appointed together with Heinrich Raspe of Frederick II to Reichsgubernator for his minor son Conrad IV. So the threat of war among the rival German princes should be prevented. Since the end of 1247 was opposed Wenceslas son Otakar II; support Moravian nobles, he rose finally in 1248 against his father, who barely reigned at this time, but devoted himself to more festivals. The wars between son and father, who was looking for followers in Germany and Austria, continued throughout the year - with varying success. The father had to leave Prague and went to the dominion of his trailer Boreš II of giant castle. After the victory at Wenceslas Brüx he let imprison his son, and this had to submit to him.
Progeny
Wenceslas I was married to Gwendolyn of Swabia. The following offspring of this marriage are known:
- Vladislav († January 3, 1247 ), Margrave of Moravia, 1246/47 contenders for the duchies of Austria and Styria
- Otakar II (1232-1278), King of Bohemia
- Beatrix ( Bozena ) ( † May 25, 1286 ) ∞ 1243 Margrave Otto III. , The Pious of Brandenburg
- Agnes († 1268 ) ∞ 1244 Margrave Henry III. , The Illustrious of Meissen
- ( Daughter)