View source for Saint Wenceslaus I

{{Saints
|SaintName=Saint Wenceslaus I
|SaintStage=Saint
|FeastDay=September 28
|SaintBirthPlace=Prague (or Stochov), Duchy of Bohemia
|DeathPlace=Stará Boleslav, Duchy of Bohemia
|SaintDeathCoordinates=50.200000, 14.683300
|SaintCauseOfDeath=martyrdom
|NotableAddress1=St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, 119 08 Prague 1, Czech Republic
|NotableLabel1=Tomb and primary shrine
|NotableCoordinates1=50.090600, 14.400600
|NotableAddress2=Basilica of St. Wenceslaus, Stará Boleslav, Czech Republic
|NotableLabel2=Site of martyrdom
|NotableCoordinates2=50.200000, 14.683300
|AssociatedCountries=Czech Republic
|AssociatedDioceses=[[Archdiocese of Prague]]
|Canonized=Yes
|SaintMiracle1=Healing spring at martyrdom site
|SaintMiracle2=Posthumous vengeance against assassins
|Profession=duke
|Patronage=Bohemia; Czech Republic; brewers; Prague
|Attributes=ducal crown; banner with eagle; dagger
|PrimaryShrine=St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic
|ReviewLevel=0
}}
'''Saint Wenceslaus I''' (Czech: '''Svatý Václav'''; c. 907 – 28 September 935), also known as '''Wenceslas''', was Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his martyrdom in 935 and is the patron saint of the Czech lands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15581b.htm |title=St. Wenceslaus |publisher=New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Born to Duke Vratislaus I and Drahomíra of the Havolans, he was raised Christian by his grandmother Saint Ludmila after his father’s death in 921. Succeeding at age 13 under his mother’s regency, Wenceslaus assumed full rule c. 925, promoting Christianity, justice, and German missionary activity while maintaining Bohemian independence from the East Frankish Empire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=213 |title=St. Wenceslaus |publisher=Catholic Online |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref>

Assassinated on 28 September 935 at Stará Boleslav by his younger brother Boleslaus the Cruel and noble accomplices, allegedly during a dispute over pro-Christian policies and German influence, Wenceslaus was immediately venerated as a martyr.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Wenceslaus |title=Saint Wenceslaus |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Canonized by ancient cultus, his feast is 28 September. Patron of Bohemia, the Czech Republic, brewers, and Prague, he is immortalized in the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.”