| History |
BIOGRAPHY
Borziwoy I was born about 840, his ancestry reputedly going back to the legendary Premysl. The head of the Premyslid Czechs who dominated the environs of Prague, Borziwoy in about 870 declared himself _knize_ (later translated by German scholars as \'Duke\') of the Czechs (Bohemians). Around 872 Borziwoy was recognised by his overlord Svatopluk I of Great Moravia, who dispatched Bishop Methodius to begin the conversion of the Czechs to Christianity. Borziwoy and his wife Ludmilla were baptised by Methodius in 874. Ludmilla became an enthusiastic evangelist, although the religion failed to take root among Borziwoy\'s subjects. She was later canonised by the Church.
Around 883 Borziwoy was deposed by a revolt in support of his kinsman Strojmir, and restored only with the support of Svatopluk of Moravia.
As with most of the early Bohemian rulers, Borziwoy is a shadowy figure and exact dates and facts for his reign can never be considered as completely reliable, although several major fortifications and religious foundations are said to have dated from this time. In old Czech legends he is said to be the son of a prince of the Bohemians called Hostivit.
Borziwoy and Ludmilla had two sons, Sptignew and Wratislaw. Spitignew succeeded as duke of Bohemia on his father\'s death in about 894. [1] |
Ellie Wood Keith Genealogy
Abt 840 - Abt 894 (~ 54 years)
, d. 15 Sep 927 (Age ~ 77 years)