Editing Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (section)

==Veneration==
{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix= [[Saint]]
|name           = Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, venerated as Saint Wenceslaus or Wenceslas
|birth_date     = c. 907
|death_date     = 28 September 935
|feast_day      = 28 September
|venerated_in   = [[Catholic Church]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
|image          = Wenzeslaus by Peter Parler.JPG
|imagesize      = 200px
|caption        = Statue of Saint Wenceslaus in [[St. Vitus Cathedral]], Prague
|birth_place    = [[Prague]], [[Bohemia]]
|death_place    = [[Stará Boleslav]], Bohemia
|titles         = [[Martyr]]
|attributes     = [[Crown (headgear)|Crown]], dagger, burning eagle on a banner
|patronage      = [[Prague]], [[Bohemia]], [[Czech Republic]]
|major_shrine   = [[St. Vitus Cathedral]], Prague
}}
Wenceslaus was considered a [[martyr]] and [[saint]] immediately after his death, when a cult of Wenceslaus grew up in [[Bohemia]] and in [[England]].<ref>Describing the [http://www.kb.se/codex-gigas/eng/Long/texter/calender/ Codex Gigas], a thirteenth-century manuscript from Bohemia in the Swedish National Library in Stockholm, it is stated: "All this bears witness to the outstanding importance of the cult of Vaclav in Bohemia at the time of the Devil's Bible's compilation. Moreover, all three festivals are inscribed in red ink, denoting their superlative degree."</ref> Within a few decades, four biographies of him were in circulation.<ref>The ''First Slavonic Life'' (in [[Old Church Slavonic]]), the anonymous ''{{ill|Crescente fide|cs}}'' (in Latin), the ''Passio sancti Venceslavi martyris'' (in Latin) by Gumpold, bishop of [[Mantua]] (d. 985), and ''Vita et passio sancti Venceslai et sancte Ludmile ave eius'' (in Latin) (''The Life and Passion of Saint Václav and his Grandmother Saint Ludmila'') by [[Strachkvas]] (Kristián) as described in the {{ill|Kristiánova legenda|cs}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJ6cVJttROwC |title=Hastening Toward Prague: Power and Society in the Medieval Czech Lands |via= Google Boeken |date=2001 |isbn=0812236130 |access-date=2013-11-20|last1=Wolverton |first1=Lisa |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press }}</ref> These [[hagiography|hagiographies]] had a powerful influence on the [[High Middle Ages]] concept of the ''rex justus'' (righteous king), a [[monarch]] whose power stems mainly from his great piety as well as his princely vigor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/9/defries.html |title=Defries – St. Oswald's Martyrdom |publisher=Mun.ca |access-date=2013-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109143819/http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/9/defries.html |archive-date=2013-11-09}}</ref>

Referring approvingly to these hagiographies, the chronicler [[Cosmas of Prague]], writing in about the year 1119, states:<ref>Book I of the ''Chronica Boëmorum'', Quoted in Wolverton, ''op. cit.''</ref>

{{quote|But his deeds I think you know better than I could tell you; for, as is read in his ''Passion'', no one doubts that, rising every night from his noble bed, with bare feet and only one chamberlain, he went around to God’s churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted by every difficulty, so much so that he was considered, not a prince, but the father of all the wretched.}}

Several centuries later this legend was asserted as fact by [[Pope Pius II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kresadlo.cz/goodking.htm |title=Good King Wenceslas |publisher=Kresadlo.cz |access-date=2013-11-20}}</ref>

Although Wenceslaus was only a duke during his lifetime, Holy Roman Emperor [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] posthumously "conferred on [Wenceslaus] the regal dignity and title", which is why he is referred to as "king" in legend and song.<ref name=mershman>Mershman,[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15587b.htm Francis. "St. Wenceslaus." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 8 January 2016</ref>

The [[hymn]] "Svatý Václave" (Saint Wenceslaus) or "[[Saint Wenceslas Chorale]]" is one of the oldest known Czech songs. Traceable to the 12th century AD, it is still among the most popular religious songs in the Bohemian lands. In 1918, at the founding of the modern Czechoslovak state, the song was discussed as a possible choice for the national anthem. During the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|Nazi occupation]], it was often played along with the Czech anthem.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

Wenceslaus's feast day is celebrated on [[September 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|September 28]].<ref>''[http://days.pravoslavie.ru/en/Days/20140928.htm September 28/October 11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129081145/http://days.pravoslavie.ru/en/Days/20140928.htm |date=2014-11-29 }}.'' Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/09/28/102754-martyr-wenceslaus-the-prince-of-the-czechs Martyr Wenceslaus the Prince of the Czechs].'' OCA – Lives of the Saints.</ref> On this day, celebrations and a pilgrimage are held in the city of [[Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav|Stará Boleslav]], whereas the [[Translation (relic)|translation of his relics]], which took place in 938, is commemorated on [[March 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|4 March]].<ref>''[http://days.pravoslavie.ru/en/Days/20140304.htm March 4/17] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129081307/http://days.pravoslavie.ru/en/Days/20140304.htm |date=2014-11-29 }}.'' Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).</ref> Since 2000, the September 28 feast day has been a [[Public holidays in the Czech Republic|public holiday in the Czech Republic]], celebrated as Czech Statehood Day.

===In legend===
[[File:Lebka vaclavova.JPG|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Cardinal [[Miloslav Vlk]] with the crowned skull of Saint Wenceslaus during a procession on 28 September 2006]]

Legends of Wenceslaus began to appear around the second half of the 10th century, several decades after his death, and spread throughout both Bohemia and abroad, including Italy, Germany, and even Russia. Such legends include the first Old Slavic legend from the 10th century, the Latin legend Crescente fide, Gumpold's legend, and Christian's legend.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668162/ | title=Latin Legends of Czech Saints: Vitus, Prokop and Wenceslas | website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref>

According to legend, one Count Radislas rose in rebellion and marched against King Wenceslaus. The latter sent a deputation with offers of peace, but Radislas viewed this as a sign of cowardice. The two armies were drawn up opposite each other in battle array, when Wenceslaus, to avoid shedding innocent blood, challenged Radislas to single combat. As Radislas advanced toward the king, he saw by Wenceslaus's side two angels, who cried: "Stand off!" Thunderstruck, Radislas repented his rebellion, threw himself from his horse at Wenceslaus's feet, and asked for pardon. Wenceslaus raised him and kindly received him again into favour.

A second enduring [[King asleep in mountain|legend]] claims an army of knights sleeps under [[Blaník]], a mountain in the [[Czech Republic]]. They will awake and, under the command of Wenceslaus, bring aid to the Czech people in their ultimate danger. There is a similar legend in [[Prague]] which says that when the Motherland is in danger or in its darkest times and close to ruin, the equestrian statue of King Wenceslaus in Wenceslaus Square will come to life, raise the army sleeping in Blaník, and upon crossing the [[Charles Bridge]] his horse will stumble and trip over a stone, revealing the legendary sword of Bruncvík. With this sword, King Wenceslaus will slay all the enemies of the Czechs, bringing peace and prosperity to the land.<ref>{{cite book|last=Košnář|first=Julius|title=Staropražské pověsti a legendy|year=2008|publisher=Nakladatelství XYZ|location=Prague|isbn=978-80-86864-86-0|page=289}}</ref>