Role Saint Name Ludmila Bohemia | Attributes veil Feast September 16 Parents Slavibor | |
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Canonized shortly after her death Assassinated September 15, 921 AD, Tetin, Czech Republic Children Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia Grandchildren Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia Great grandchildren Doubravka of Bohemia, Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, Mlada, Strachkvas, Maria of Bohemia, Zbraslav Similar People Drahomira, Borivoj I - Duke of Bohemia, Wenceslaus I - Duke of Bohemia, Vratislaus I - Duke of Bohemia, Boleslaus I - Duke of Bohemia | ||
Major shrine Chapel of St. Ludmila | ||
St. Ludmila of Bohemia, Prague - Bells
Saint Ludmila (c. 860 – 15 September 921) is a Czech saint and martyr venerated by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics. She was born in Mělník as the daughter of the Sorbian prince Slavibor. Saint Ludmila was the grandmother of Saint Wenceslaus, who is widely referred to as Good King Wenceslaus.
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Marriage
Ludmila was married to Bořivoj I of Bohemia, the first Christian Duke of Bohemia, in 873. The couple was converted to Christianity through the efforts of Saint Methodius. Their efforts to convert Bohemia to Christianity were initially not well received, and they were driven from their country for a time by the pagans. Eventually the couple returned, and ruled for several years before retiring to Tetín, near Beroun.
The couple was succeeded by their son Spytihněv. Spytihněv was succeeded by his brother Vratislav. When Vratislav died in 921, his son Wenceslas became the next ruler of Bohemia. It had been mainly Ludmila who raised her grandson and she now acted as regent for him.
Ludmila and Drahomíra
Wenceslaus' mother Drahomíra became jealous of Ludmila's influence over Wenceslaus. She had two noblemen murder Ludmila at Tetín, and part of Ludmila's story says that she was strangled with her veil. Initially, Saint Ludmila was buried at St. Michael's at Tetín.
Saint Ludmila was canonized shortly after her death. As part of the process of canonization, in 925, Wenceslaus moved her remains to the St. George's Basilica, Prague. She is venerated as a patroness of Bohemia. She is considered to be a patron saint of Bohemia, converts, Czech Republic, duchesses, problems with in-laws, and widows. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 September.
Antonín Dvořák composed his oratorio Svatá Ludmila (Saint Ludmila) between September 1885 and May 1886. The work was commissioned by the publisher Littleton for the Leeds Festival.