Ludmila of Bohemia ( 860 – 15 September 921) is a Czech saint and martyr venerated by Catholic and Orthodox Christians. 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. Saint Ludmila was canonised shortly after her death. As part of the process of canonisation, in 925, Wenceslaus moved her remains to St. George's Basilica, Prague.

Marriage

Ludmila was married to Bořivoj I of Bohemia, the first Christian Duke of Bohemia, Their efforts to convert Bohemia to Christianity were initially not well received, Spytihněv was succeeded by his brother Vratislav. When Vratislav died in 921, his son Wenceslas became the next ruler of Bohemia.

Ludmila was canonized shortly after her death. As part of the process of canonization, in 925 Wenceslaus moved her remains to St. George's Basilica, Prague.

Antonín Dvořák composed his oratorio Saint Ludmila between September 1885 and May 1886. The work was commissioned by the publisher Littleton for the Leeds Festival.

Interesting facts

A direct descendant of Saint Ludmila is Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna.

See also

  • St. George's Basilica, Prague
  • House of Přemysl
  • Bohemia
  • Statue of Saint Ludmila, Charles Bridge
  • Saint Ludmila, patron saint archive

References

Sources

  • Pekar, J., Die Wenzels- und Ludmilla-Legenden und die Echtheit Christians (Prag, 1906).
  • Christianus Monachus, "Vita et Passio sancti Venceslai et sanctae Ludmilae avae eius," in Magnae Moraviae Fontes Historici (Brno, 1967), 186–199.
  • Ingham, N. W., "The Lost Church Slavonic Life of Saint Ludmila," in Studia Slavica Mediaevalia et Himanistica. Riccardo Piccio dicata. T. 1–2 (Roma, 1986), 349–360.