Boleslaus III (c. 965 – 1037), called the Red (Czech: Boleslav III. Ryšavý; to denote a "red-haired" individual) or the Blind, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, was duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 and briefly again during the year 1003. He was the "worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne".[This quote needs a citation] During his chaotic reign, Bohemia became a pawn in the long German–Polish War between King Henry II and Duke Bolesław I, "the Brave", of Poland.
The eldest son of Duke Boleslaus II "the Pious", probably with his first wife Adiva, he succeeded to the Bohemian throne upon the death of his father in 999. Boleslaus III turned out to be a weak ruler and soon entered into a fierce inheritance conflict with his younger brothers Jaromír and Oldřich. He had both expelled to the Bavarian court of Henry II in Regensburg, together with their mother Dowager Duchess Emma.
By 1002, a revolt organized by nobles of the rival Vršovci clan (along with Boleslaus's son-in-law) forced him to flee to Germany, where he was received by Margrave Henry I of Austria. At first, Henry I ordered the arrest of his guest because of an old offence, but soon forgave him and promised support. Meanwhile, the Polish duke Bolesław I installed Boleslaus' kinsman Vladivoj on the Bohemian throne. Vladivoj was apparently an alcoholic, however, and died within a year. After the death of Vladivoj in 1003, the Bohemian nobles invited Jaromír and Oldřich back from exile. In turn, they each later assumed the throne at Prague.
On 9 February 1003, Boleslaus the Red was restored to authority with armed support from Duke Bolesław of Poland. Boleslaus's brothers Jaromír and Oldřich again fled to Germany and placed themselves under the protection of Henry II. But Boleslaus soon undermined his own position by ordering a massacre of the nobles of the Vršovci clan at Vyšehrad. According to the chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg, Boleslav slashed his son-in-law to death with his own sword.
Nobles who survived the massacre secretly sent messengers to Bolesław the Brave of Poland and entreated him to save them. The Polish duke willingly agreed and invited his Czech namesake to visit him at his castle (probably in Kraków). There, Boleslaus the Red was trapped, blinded and imprisoned. He never returned to Bohemia. Bolesław the Brave claimed the ducal throne for himself, invaded Bohemia in 1003 and took Prague without any serious opposition; he ruled as Duke Boleslaus IV for a little over a year. He then gave up his claim to the duchy of Bohemia and was replaced by Jaromír, who, backed by Henry II, entered through the Prague gates and in 1004 received the Bohemian duchy as a fief from the hands of the German king.
See alsoEdit
Thietmar of Merseburg. Chronik. Neu übertragen und erläutet von W. Trillmich, B. 1957.
boleslaus, duke, bohemia, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, m. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Boleslaus III Duke of Bohemia news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Boleslaus III c 965 1037 called the Red Czech Boleslav III Rysavy to denote a red haired individual or the Blind a member of the Premyslid dynasty was duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 and briefly again during the year 1003 He was the worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne This quote needs a citation During his chaotic reign Bohemia became a pawn in the long German Polish War between King Henry II and Duke Boleslaw I the Brave of Poland Boleslaus III the RedFresco in the Znojmo Rotunda 12th centuryDuke of BohemiaReignFebruary 999 May 1002PredecessorBoleslaus IISuccessorVladivojDuke of BohemiaReignFebruary March 1003PredecessorVladivojSuccessorBoleslaw I the BraveBornc 965DiedPolandSpousenot knownIssuenot knownDynastyPremyslidFatherBoleslaus II Duke of BohemiaMotherAdivaLife EditThe eldest son of Duke Boleslaus II the Pious probably with his first wife Adiva he succeeded to the Bohemian throne upon the death of his father in 999 Boleslaus III turned out to be a weak ruler and soon entered into a fierce inheritance conflict with his younger brothers Jaromir and Oldrich He had both expelled to the Bavarian court of Henry II in Regensburg together with their mother Dowager Duchess Emma By 1002 a revolt organized by nobles of the rival Vrsovci clan along with Boleslaus s son in law forced him to flee to Germany where he was received by Margrave Henry I of Austria At first Henry I ordered the arrest of his guest because of an old offence but soon forgave him and promised support Meanwhile the Polish duke Boleslaw I installed Boleslaus kinsman Vladivoj on the Bohemian throne Vladivoj was apparently an alcoholic however and died within a year After the death of Vladivoj in 1003 the Bohemian nobles invited Jaromir and Oldrich back from exile In turn they each later assumed the throne at Prague On 9 February 1003 Boleslaus the Red was restored to authority with armed support from Duke Boleslaw of Poland Boleslaus s brothers Jaromir and Oldrich again fled to Germany and placed themselves under the protection of Henry II But Boleslaus soon undermined his own position by ordering a massacre of the nobles of the Vrsovci clan at Vysehrad According to the chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg Boleslav slashed his son in law to death with his own sword Nobles who survived the massacre secretly sent messengers to Boleslaw the Brave of Poland and entreated him to save them The Polish duke willingly agreed and invited his Czech namesake to visit him at his castle probably in Krakow There Boleslaus the Red was trapped blinded and imprisoned He never returned to Bohemia Boleslaw the Brave claimed the ducal throne for himself invaded Bohemia in 1003 and took Prague without any serious opposition he ruled as Duke Boleslaus IV for a little over a year He then gave up his claim to the duchy of Bohemia and was replaced by Jaromir who backed by Henry II entered through the Prague gates and in 1004 received the Bohemian duchy as a fief from the hands of the German king See also EditThietmar of Merseburg Chronik Neu ubertragen und erlautet von W Trillmich B 1957 Cosmas of Prague Chronicle of Bohemians References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boleslaus III Duke of Bohemia Boleslaus III Duke of BohemiaPremyslid dynastyBorn c 965 Died 1037Preceded byBoleslaus II Duke of Bohemia999 1002 Succeeded byVladivoj Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boleslaus III Duke of Bohemia amp oldid 1160000983, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
