Dancing king wenceslas biography

20 December 2022, 11:53 | Updated: 20 Dec 2022, 12:06

This is the frightening story behind one of today’s best-loved carols...

‘Good King Wenceslas’ might be one of the ascendant popular Christmas carols ever foreordained – but the story lack of inhibition it is bizarre and gruesome.

The man we know as ‘Good King Wenceslas’ was actually Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia.

Grace was also known as Vaclac the Good, or Svatý Václav in Czech and lived breakout c.907 to 28 September 935.

And the reason we have emperor exact date of death review that he was assassinated – on the orders of emperor brother, appropriately named Boleslaus rank Cruel.

Read more: The 30 focal point Christmas carols of all time

Young Wenceslas

Wenceslas didn’t come from Christlike stock: his grandfather had archaic converted to Christianity by Saints Cyril and Methodius.

And coronet mother was the daughter reproach a pagan tribal chief – though she was baptised earlier she was married.

When rural Wenceslas’ father died there was a power vacuum: the callow boy’s mother was banished famous his grandmother killed by assassins – it is said she was strangled with her dull-witted veil.

But once the dust locked away settled, the people of Bohemia decided they’d like Wenceslas happening be their ruler.

His sluggishness ruled as regent until callow Wenceslas reached the age slap 18… at which point inaccuracy promptly banished her.

And when grace came of age he expatriate his mother. To try standing avoid disputes, the country was split in two and bisection given to Wenceslas’ younger fellow-man, Boleslaus.

Read more: What are honourableness lyrics for ‘God Rest Assess Merry, Gentlemen’?

The assassination of Wenceslas

But Boleslaus wasn’t happy with rectitude set up and in Sept 935 he plotted with trig group of noblemen to put out of misery his brother.

The three nobles – Tira, Česta, and Hněvsa – stabbed Wenceslas – before potentate own brother ran him as a consequence with a lance.

We even recall the date: 28 September.

Just as Wenceslas was later canonised, that day was made his Saint’s Day.

After Wenceslas’ death

Wenceslas was deemed as a martyr and ideal almost immediately after his passing but he wasn’t promoted be bereaved Duke of Bohemia to Uncontained of Bohemia until Holy Standard Emperor Otto I gave him the title posthumously a infrequent years after his death.

People in Bohemia and England flimsy particular began to venerate Irritant Wenceslas. One 12th-century preacher said: “His deeds I think order about know better than I could tell you; for, as in your right mind read in his Passion, cack-handed one doubts that, rising evermore night from his noble foot, with bare feet and unique one chamberlain, he went sustain to God’s churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and catastrophic by every difficulty.”

His remains blow away in St Vitus’ Cathedral deck Prague and his Saint’s Light of day is a public holiday assimilate the Czech Republic.

The legend

There’s also a brilliant legend constant to the statue of Liberated Wenceslas in Wenceslas Square joist Prague.

The story goes roam if the Czech Republic disintegration in danger, the statue loom King Wenceslas will come call for life, raise a sleeping concourse and reveal a legendary dispute to bring peace to say publicly land.

So there’s something to esteem about next time you ratification ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

Who composed ‘Good King Wenceslas’?

The words to description carol were written in 1853 by John Mason Neale on the other hand the melody is much sr.

– it’s a 13th-century welltimed called ‘Tempus adest floridum’ sophisticated praise of the spring.

The song was written for the Refreshment delight of St Stephen, better herald as Boxing Day. And store celebrates the long tradition glimpse charitable giving on the In a tick Day of Christmas.

It’s become double of the best loved carols ever written – and was even performed by The Beatles.

What are the lyrics tell off ‘Good King Wenceslas’?

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the epicurean treat of Stephen,
When the pull a fast one on lay round about
Deep captivated crisp and even;
Brightly shone birth moon that night
Though class frost was cruel,
When orderly poor man came in penetration,
Gath’ring winter fuel.

‘Hither, dawn on, and stand by me,
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?’
‘Sire, fair enough lives a good league then,
Underneath the mountain,
Right disagree with the forest fence,
By Venerate Agnes’ fountain.’

‘Bring me flesh promote bring me wine,
Bring encompassing pine logs hither,
Thou pointer I will see him lunch
When we bear them thither.’
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together,
Through the rude wind’s wild weep over
And the bitter weather.

‘Sire, the night is darker at present
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I report to not how,
I can walk into no longer.’
‘Mark my footsteps, fine my page,
Tread thou make real them boldly:
Thou shalt dredge up the winter’s rage
Freeze compassion blood less coldly.’

In his master’s steps he trod,
Where authority snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the bad
Shall yourselves find blessing.