Oldrich of Bohemia
Encyclopedia
Ulrich (ca. 975 – 11 November 1034) was the duke of Bohemia from 1012 to 1033 and briefly in 1034. He was a son of Boleslaus II
and brother of Boleslaus III
and Jaromir
.
Ulrich deposed Jaromir on 12 April 1012 and recognised the suzerainty of the Holy Roman Emperor
. Discarding his wife on the grounds that they were childless, Ulrich married a peasant woman known as Bozena. Ulrich and his son Bretislaus
sought to win back Moravia
from the Poles
and in 1029 Bretislaus drove the Poles out of the eastern lands. Bretislaus' efforts in Slovakia
against Hungary
failed in 1030 because of the jealousy of the Emperor Conrad II. In the following year, Czech forces refused to take the field for the emperor.
In 1032, Ulrich was invited to the Diet of Merseburg
and did not appear. His absence raised the ire of the emperor and Conrad, busy with events in Burgundy
, charged his son Henry VI, Duke of Bavaria, with punishing the recalcitrant Bohemian. Ulrich made subjection and was deposed and sent to Bavaria
. He was replaced by Jaromir, but he in turn was captured, blinded, and deposed by Ulrich, who seized power again and drove out Jaromir's son from Moravia. Ulrich died abruptly on 9 November 1034 and later examination of his skeleton reveal his skull to have suffered a fatal blow. Jaromir then renounced the throne in favour of Bretislaus.
Boleslaus II of Bohemia
Boleslaus II the Pious was the duke of Bohemia from 972, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty.The son of Boleslaw also called Boleslaus I and Biagota, Boleslaus II became Duke in on his father's death. Boleslaus maintained good relations with the Ottonian German kings, and in 975 supported Otto II...
and brother of Boleslaus III
Boleslaus III of Bohemia
Boleslaus III , called the Red or the Blind, was the duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 AD. He was the "worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne."...
and Jaromir
Jaromir of Bohemia
Jaromir was the second son of Boleslaus II the Pious and Emma. In 1003, he rebelled against his elder brother Boleslaus III, who had him emasculated, but was unable to secure the throne which was subsequently taken by Boleslaw the Brave, King of Poland. Jaromir and his brother Oldrich then sought...
.
Ulrich deposed Jaromir on 12 April 1012 and recognised the suzerainty of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. Discarding his wife on the grounds that they were childless, Ulrich married a peasant woman known as Bozena. Ulrich and his son Bretislaus
Bretislaus I of Bohemia
Bretislaus I , known as Bohemian Achilles, of the house of the Přemyslids, was the duke of Bohemia from 1035 till death.-Youth:...
sought to win back 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...
from the Poles
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and in 1029 Bretislaus drove the Poles out of the eastern lands. Bretislaus' efforts in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
against Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
failed in 1030 because of the jealousy of the Emperor Conrad II. In the following year, Czech forces refused to take the field for the emperor.
In 1032, Ulrich was invited to the Diet of Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
and did not appear. His absence raised the ire of the emperor and Conrad, busy with events in Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
, charged his son Henry VI, Duke of Bavaria, with punishing the recalcitrant Bohemian. Ulrich made subjection and was deposed and sent to Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. He was replaced by Jaromir, but he in turn was captured, blinded, and deposed by Ulrich, who seized power again and drove out Jaromir's son from Moravia. Ulrich died abruptly on 9 November 1034 and later examination of his skeleton reveal his skull to have suffered a fatal blow. Jaromir then renounced the throne in favour of Bretislaus.