Wenceslaus (Wenzel, or Venzeslav), St

Wenceslaus (Wenzel, or Venzeslav), St.

a prince of Bohemia, son of Vratislav and Drahomira, was born about the beginning of the 10th century. His education was intrusted to his grandmother Ludmila, a devoted Christian; and he thus received a training which led him to become a pious Christian, and follow the course of a clergyman more than that of a prince. His brother Boleslaus (or Boleslav) was a fierce pagan; and, in conjunction with his mother, also a pagan, secured a visit from him, and slew him at the foot of the altar while engaged in prayer, September 28, 935. Wenceslaus has been the subject of many works of art. See Jameson, Legends of the Monastic Orders, page 175 sq.; Neander, Hist. of the Church, 3:322.