Katana VentraIP

Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia

Wenceslaus I (Czech: Václav [ˈvaːtslaf] ; c. 907 – 28 September 935), Wenceslas I or Václav the Good[5] was the Prince (kníže) of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935. According to the legend, he was assassinated by his younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel.

"St. Wenceslas" redirects here. For the 1930 Czechoslovak film, see St. Wenceslas (film).

Wenceslaus I

13 February 921 −
28 September 935 or 929

28 September 935
(aged c. 28) or
28 September 929
(aged c. 22)
Stará Boleslav, Bohemia

Basilica of St. Wenceslaus in Stará Boleslav, St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague[4]

His martyrdom and the popularity of several biographies gave rise to a reputation for heroic virtue that resulted in his sainthood. He was posthumously declared to be a king and patron saint of the Czech state. He is the subject of the well-known "Good King Wenceslas", a carol for Saint Stephen's Day.


Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia

c. 907
Prague, Bohemia

28 September 935
Stará Boleslav, Bohemia

28 September

Crown, dagger, burning eagle on a banner

Crown of Saint Wenceslas

Sword of Saint Wenceslas

Statues of Saints Norbert, Wenceslaus and Sigismund

Good King Wenceslas

Patron Saints Index: St. Wenceslaus

Catholic Online: St. Wenceslaus

Rejzl, Jan (1995).

Good King Wenceslas: The Real Story