Bořivoj (Přemyslovci) z Čechy (aft. 852 - aft. 888)

Born after 0852 in Čechy, Velká Morava

Descendants

Died after 0888 at about age 36 in Čechy, Velká Morava

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Bořivoj I Přemyslovci was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Biography

Bořivoj I (Přemyslovci) z Čechy is Notable.

Bořivoj was born between 852 and 855 and died between 888 and 890. He was the first documented Přemyslid and the first Christian ruler in Bohemia.^[1][2] His supposed descent from the legendary Czech ruler Hostivit is based on several legends, including Fuit in provincia Boemorum,^[3] dated to the 10. to 12. century for different parts, the Legenda Christiani,^[4] written at the end of the 10. century, and Cosmae Pragensis Chronica Boemorum,^[5] written between 1119 and 1125. These "legends" contain a mixture of truly legendary tales and historical events and are generally considered to be reliable sources for early Bohemian history.
He married, probably in 874 or 875, Ludmila of Pšov, the later Saint Ludmila, patron saint of Bohemia.^[6] The couple had two known children, Spytihněv and Vratislav. Dušan Třeštík suggests that inbetween the two there were four more children born who did not survive childhood and of whom no further details are known.^[7]
The family resided at Levý Hradec, a few miles to the northwest of today's Prague. It was assumed that Bořivoj founded Prague Castle and moved the family seat there but newer research suggests that this happened under his son Spytihněv I.^[8]
Bohemia in the 9th century was not a unified country with one ruler. It belonged to the sphere of Great Moravia under Svatopluk I. At any given time there were several dukes of Bohemia each ruling his own territory but representing Bohemia collectively to other states (in 845 there were 14 dukes of Bohemia appearing before Ludwig the German).^[9]

Baptism of the bohemian duke Borivoj. Velislav bible, 14. century.

Bořivoj was the first Bohemian prince to become a Christian at the court of Svatopluk I. Christian^[4] suggests that as a pagan he was not treated as an equal at the Christian court which allowed the bishop of Moravia Methodius of Saloniki to convince him to become baptized. Back in Bohemia this led to an uprising causing Bořivoj and Ludmila to flee to Moravia. It did not take long until they could return and begin to consolidate their power, ultimately leading to the creation of the Duchy of Bohemia, and later the Kingdom of Bohemia under their descendants.

Sources

1. ↑ The Czechs and the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, Hugh LeCaine Agnew (2004), Hoover Press. p. 1832
2. ↑ TŘEŠTÍK, Dušan. Počátky Přemyslovců. Vstup Čechů do dějin (530 - 935). Praha, pp. 176-195
3. ↑ Passio S. Ludmillae, Oswald Holder-Egger in MGH SS 15,1, Hannover 1887, pp. 572-574
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Legenda Christiani. Vita et passio sancti Wenceslai et sancte Ludmile ave eius. Centrum medievistických studií Praha
5. ↑ Chronica Boemorum, Monumenta Germaniae Historica
6. ↑ TŘEŠTÍK, Dušan. Počátky Přemyslovců. Vstup Čechů do dějin (530–935). Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2006, pp. 204-205
7. ↑ TŘEŠTÍK, Dušan. Počátky Přemyslovců. Vstup Čechů do dějin (530–935). Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2006, p. 194
8. ↑ Zakladatelská činnost
9. ↑ Annales Fuldenses for the year 845, as quoted in Geschichte Böhmens

See also:

• Europäische Stammtafeln, NF Band I.2 Tafel 176
• Wikipedia profile: Bořivoj I, Duke of Bohemia
• Additional extensive literature at Bořivoj I.

Acknowledgment

• This person was created through the import of LJ Pellman Consolidated Family_2011-03-21.ged on 21 March 2011.
• WikiTree profile UNKNOWN-82922 created through the import of heinakuu2011-6.ged on Jul 5, 2011 by Johanna Amnelin.
• Thanks to Steve VanderLeest for starting this profile.