Bretislaus III of Bohemia
Encyclopedia
Henry Bretislaus III (died 15 or 19 June 1197) was the duke of Bohemia from 1193 to his death. Being the bishop of Prague
since 1182, he was also a prince of the Holy Roman Empire
. He was a son of Henry, son of Vladislaus I
.
After brilliant studies at the University of Paris
, he was named provost
of Vyšehrad
, near Prague. In 1182, he accepted the diaconate from the hands of his cousin the archbishop of Salzburg, Adalbert III
. He elected in the same year to be archbishop and went to Mainz
to receive imperial affirmation. He was ordained a priest on 22 May and crowned bishop the following day. In the subsequent quarrels over the throne, he supported Ottokar, the son of the King Vladislaus II. Bretislaus was unable to pay the necessary tribute of 6,000 écu
s to the Emperor Henry VI for Ottokar's crown and his brother Vladislaus' margraviate of Moravia
. While on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
, he was captured by the emperor, who held him captive at his court.
In 1192, Ottokar I
usurped the Czech throne from Wenceslaus II
. Wenceslaus tried to petition the emperor for assistance, but was captured. Henry, however, was not ignorant of Bohemian affairs: in June 1193, he deposed Ottokar at the Diet of Worms
. Ottokar was abandoned by the nobility and Henry exempted Bretislaus from the payment and appointed him duke.
Bretislaus had to secure his duchy by force of arms. By Christmas, he was keeping court at Prague. In 1195, he drove Vladislaus out of Moravia and installed one of his supporters in the march. Bretislaus also took part in an imperial campaign in Meissen
, where his army plundered the churches. He planned to take part in the Crusade decided on at the diet of Worms of December 1195, but it was never actualised. He died on 15 or 19 June 1197 after a long disease.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
since 1182, he was also a prince of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. He was a son of Henry, son of Vladislaus I
Vladislaus I of Bohemia
Vladislaus I , duke of Bohemia from 1109 to 1117 and from 1120 to April 12, 1125.Vladislav I was a son of Duke, later King, Vratislav II of Bohemia by his second wife Swatawa, a daughter of Casimir I of Poland. Together with his cousin Svatopluk, Vladislav expelled his brother Bořivoj II from...
.
After brilliant studies at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, he was named provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a castle located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River...
, near Prague. In 1182, he accepted the diaconate from the hands of his cousin the archbishop of Salzburg, Adalbert III
Vojtech
Vojtěch or Vojtech - is a Czech and Slovak form of Slavic origin given name. The name is related to the saint Adalbert of Prague. It is built of two parts: voj - war, warrior and "tech" - happy, eager. Pronounced VOY-tih. In Czech and Slovak republic, it is customary to celebrate a name day...
. He elected in the same year to be archbishop and went to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
to receive imperial affirmation. He was ordained a priest on 22 May and crowned bishop the following day. In the subsequent quarrels over the throne, he supported Ottokar, the son of the King Vladislaus II. Bretislaus was unable to pay the necessary tribute of 6,000 écu
ECU
ECU may refer to:Automotive terms* Electronic control unit, a generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a motor vehicle...
s to the Emperor Henry VI for Ottokar's crown and his brother Vladislaus' margraviate of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. While on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, he was captured by the emperor, who held him captive at his court.
In 1192, Ottokar I
Ottokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
usurped the Czech throne from Wenceslaus II
Wenceslaus II, Duke of Bohemia
Wenceslaus II was the son of Sobeslav I and brother of Sobeslav II. He was the duke of Bohemia following Conrad II in 1191.He was the duke of Olomouc and Brno, but was deposed by Duke Frederick in 1179 and exiled. He returned from exile after thirteen years on Conrad's death.Wenceslaus was...
. Wenceslaus tried to petition the emperor for assistance, but was captured. Henry, however, was not ignorant of Bohemian affairs: in June 1193, he deposed Ottokar at the Diet of Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
. Ottokar was abandoned by the nobility and Henry exempted Bretislaus from the payment and appointed him duke.
Bretislaus had to secure his duchy by force of arms. By Christmas, he was keeping court at Prague. In 1195, he drove Vladislaus out of Moravia and installed one of his supporters in the march. Bretislaus also took part in an imperial campaign in Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
, where his army plundered the churches. He planned to take part in the Crusade decided on at the diet of Worms of December 1195, but it was never actualised. He died on 15 or 19 June 1197 after a long disease.