Wife
of Boriwoi, the first Christian Duke of Bohemia. She
and her husband were baptized. Pagan fanatics drove them from their
country, but they were soon recalled, and after reigning seven more
years they resigned the throne in favour of their son Spitignev. Spitignev
died two years later and was succeeded by Wratislaw, another son of
Boriwoi and Ludmilla. Wratislaw was married to Drahomira, a pretended
Christian, but a secret favourer of paganism. They had twin sons,
St. Wenceslaus and Boleslaus the Cruel, the former of whom lived with
Ludmilla at Tetin. Wratislaw died in 916, leaving the eight-year-old
Wenceslaus as his successor. Jealous of the great influence which
Ludmilla wielded over Wenceslaus, Drahomira instigated two noblemen
to murder her. She is said to have been strangled by them with her
veil. She was at first buried in the church of St. Michael at Tetin,
but her remains were removed to the church of St. George at Prague
before the year 1100, probably by St. Wenceslaus, her grandson. She
is venerated as one of the patrons of Bohemia, and her feast is celebrated
on 16 September.
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