Saint Wenceslas

Václav was born circa 907 into the ruling Přemyslid dynasty, educated in Old Church Slavonic by his saintly grandmother Ludmila. Assuming rule as Duke of Bohemia circa 921, Wenceslas promoted Christian schooling, ransomed enslaved prisoners, and defended the poor.

On September 28, 935, while arriving for Mass at the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav, Wenceslas was attacked and murdered by his younger brother Boleslaus and conspirators. Immediately venerated as a martyr, the Crown of Saint Wenceslas became the sacred symbol of Bohemian sovereignty.