The Duchy of Bohemia was established in 870 and raised to the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198. Several Bohemian monarchs ruled as non-hereditary kings and first gained the title in 1085. From 1004 to 1806, Bohemia was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and its ruler was an elector. From 1526 to 1804, the Kingdom of Bohemia, together with the other lands of the Bohemian Crown, was ruled under a personal union as part of the Habsburg monarchy. From 1804 to 1918, Bohemia was part of the Austrian Empire, which itself was part of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. Following the dissolution of the monarchy, the Bohemian lands, now also referred to as Czech lands, became part of Czechoslovakia, and they have formed today's Czech Republic since the 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Legendary rulers of Bohemia

Dukes and Kings of Bohemia from and after Přemyslid dynasty (c. 870–1306)

Přemyslid dynasty

Feuds of Bohemia and Moravia under Premyslid rule

Part of Great Moravia (until 907)
Duchy of Bohemia (870–1198) Raised to: Kingdom of Bohemia (1198–1306)Part of Poland (999–1019)
Duchy of Moravia (1019–1055)
Duchy of Brno (1st creation) (1055–1056)Duchy of Znojmo (1st creation) (1055–1056)Duchy of Olomouc (1st creation) (1055–1056)
Duchy of Olomouc (1061–1178)
Duchy of Brno (2nd creation) (1061–1182)Duchy of Znojmo (2nd creation) (1092–1182)
Duchy of Moravia (Znojmo line) (1182–1191)
Duchy of Moravia (1197–1222)

Table of rulers

RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
Bořivoj I852 Son of Hostivít (?)870–883 885–889Duchy of BohemiaLudmila of Bohemia 873 six children889 aged 35/6First documented ruler of the dynasty.
Strojmir, Duke of Bohemia?c. 883–885Duchy of Bohemia??Apparently a usurper.
Bohemia annexed to Great Moravia (889–894)
Spytihněv I882 First son of Bořivoj I and Ludmila of Bohemia894–915Duchy of Bohemia (with Moravia since 907)Unmarried915 aged 32/3His reign restored Bohemian sovereignty.
Vratislaus I (Vratislav)888 Second son of Bořivoj I and Ludmila of Bohemia915 – 13 February 921Duchy of BohemiaDrahomíra three children13 February 921 aged 32/3
Regencies of Ludmila of Bohemia (921) and Drahomíra (921–925)Known as St. Wenceslaus ("Good King Wenceslas" for English-speaking people), the patron saint of the Czech lands.
St.Wenceslaus (Svatý Václav)907 Stochov First son of Vratislaus I and Drahomíra13 February 921- 28 September 929/35Duchy of BohemiaUnmarried28 September 929/35 Stará Boleslav aged 21/2 or 27/8
Boleslaus I the Cruel (Boleslav I. Ukrutný)915 Prague (?) Second son of Vratislaus I and Drahomíra28 September 929/35 – July 972Duchy of BohemiaBiagota four childrenJuly 972 aged 56/7Assassinated his brother to ascend to the ducal throne.
Boleslaus II the Pious (Boleslav II. Pobožný)940 Prague (?) Son of Boleslaus I and BiagotaJuly 972 – 7 February 999Duchy of BohemiaAdiva (of England?) four children Emma of Mělník (Emma of Italy (?)) 989 no children7 February 999 aged 58/9Moravia is again lost, this time, to Poland, in 999.
Boleslaus III the Red (Boleslav III. Ryšavý)965 First son of Boleslaus II and Adiva7 February 999 – May 1002 February – March 1003Duchy of BohemiaUnknown1037 aged 56/7In 1002–04, Bohemia was invaded twice by Poland.
Bohemia was annexed to Poland (1002-04): May 1002 – February 1003: Vladivoj (Władywoj), son of Mieszko I of Poland; March 1003–1004: Bolesław I the Brave, King of Poland
Jaromírc. 970 Second son of Boleslaus II and Adiva1004 – 12 April 1012 9 November 1034–1035Duchy of BohemiaUnknown4 November 1038 Lysá nad Labem aged 60/70In 1004, Jaromir occupied Prague with a German army and proclaimed himself Bohemian duke, restoring the family's domain, albeit reduced. As brothers of Boleslaus III, Jaromir and Ulrich had a fight for the throne that lasted until 1034, when Ulrich died and Jaromir retired (and then murdered). Nevertheless, more land was at stake, as Moravia was reintegrated into Bohemia in 1019, after being reconquered from Poland, and given to Ulrich's son.
Ulrich I (Oldřich)c. 975 Third son of Boleslaus II and Adiva12 April 1012 – 9 November 1034Duchy of BohemiaBožena c. 1002 one child9 November 1034 or 1042 aged 59/60 or 66/7
1033 – 9 November 1034Duchy of Moravia
Bretislaus I the Bohemian Achilles (Břetislav I. český Achilles)1002/5 Son of Ulrich I and Božena1019/29 – 1033 9 November 1034 – 10 January 1055Duchy of MoraviaJudith of Schweinfurt 1020 four children10 January 1055 aged 50/3First separation of Moravia from Bohemia. His father usurped his place for a year. After his own death, his sons shared the inheritance.
1035 – 10 January 1055Duchy of Bohemia
Spytihněv II1031 First son of Bretislaus I and Judith of Schweinfurt10 January 1055 – 28 January 1061Duchy of Bohemia (also in Moravia from 1056)Ida of Wettin 1054 one child28 January 1061 aged 29/30Children of Bretislav I, divided their inheritance: Spytihnev kept Bohemia; the others divided Moravia: Conrad received Brno; Vratislav got Olomouc; Otto inherited Znojmo. The division was made ineffective by Spytihnev (1055), who extended his rule to Moravia, uniting the whole Premyslid domain under his control. However, after his death (1061), the landless brothers recovered the inheritance and divided it differently, as Vratislav inherited Bohemia: Conrad recovered Brno but also received Otto's share in Znojmo; Otto received Vratislav's part in Olomouc.
Vratislaus II (Vratislav II)c. 1035 Second son of Bretislaus I and Judith of Schweinfurt10 January 1055–1056Duchy of OlomoucMaria before 1057 no children Adelaide of Hungary (I) 1057 four children Świętosława of Poland 1062 five children14 January 1092 aged 59/60
28 January 1061 – June 1085 (as Duke) June 1085 – 14 January 1092 (as King)Duchy of Bohemia
Conrad I (Konrád I)c. 1035 Third son of Bretislaus I and Judith of Schweinfurt10 January 1055–1056 28 January 1061 – 6 September 1092Duchy of Brno (with Znojmo since 1061)Wirpirk of Tengling 1054 two children6 September 1092 aged 56/57
14 January – 6 September 1092Duchy of Bohemia
Otto I the Fair (Ota Sličný)1045 Fifth son of Bretislaus I and Judith of Schweinfurt10 January 1055–1056Duchy of ZnojmoEuphemia of Hungary before 1073 two children9 June 1087 aged 41/2
28 January 1061 – 9 June 1087Duchy of Olomouc
Boleslaus (Boleslav)1062 First son of Vratislaus II and Świętosława of Poland9 June 1087 – 11 August 1091Duchy of OlomoucUnmarried11 August 1091 aged 28/9
Bretislaus II (Břetislav II)c. 1060 Son of Vratislaus II and Adelaide of Hungary (I)6 September 1092 – 22 December 1100Duchy of BohemiaLukarta of Bogen 1094 one child22 December 1100 aged 39/40
Ulrich (II) (Oldřich)c. 1070/80? First son of Conrad I and Wirpirk of Tengling6 September 1092 – 5 January 1113Duchy of Brno (with Znojmo since 1112)Adelaide two children5 January 1113 aged c. 33/43?Children of Conrad I, divided the inheritance: Luitpold received Znojmo; Ulrich inherited Brno. Despite having heirs, Luitpold's land came to Ulrich's possession after his death. Conrad II, Luitpold's heir, would come to power in 1123.
Luitpold (I) (Litold znojemský)c. 1070/80? Second son of Conrad I and Wirpirk of Tengling6 September 1092 – 15 March 1112Duchy of ZnojmoIda of Austria[cs; sr] one child15 March 1112 aged c. 32/42?
Bořivoj IIc. 1064 Prague Second son of Vratislaus II and Świętosława of Poland25 December 1100 – May 1107 December 1117 – 16 August 1120Duchy of BohemiaHelbirga of Austria October 1100 Znojmo no children2 February 1124 aged 39/40Ruled twice. Retired in 1120.
Svatopluk (I) (Svatopluk Olomoucký)1075 First son of Otto I and Euphemia of Hungary11 August 1091 – 21 September 1109Duchy of OlomoucUnknown one child21 September 1109 aged 33/4
May 1107 – 21 September 1109Duchy of Bohemia
Vladislaus I (Vladislav I)c. 1065 Third son of Vratislaus II and Świętosława of Poland21 September 1109 – December 1117 16 August 1120 – 12 April 1125Duchy of BohemiaRicheza of Berg 1110/11 four children12 April 1125 Prague aged 59/60Ruled twice.
Sobeslaus Ic. 1075 Fourth son of Vratislaus II and Świętosława of Poland5 January 1113–1123Duchy of Brno (with Znojmo)Adelaide of Hungary (II) 1123 five children14 February 1140 aged 64/5Ruled Brno and Znojmo, which split after his resign: Znojmo returned to its heir, Conrad II; Brno was absorbed by Olomouc, the other Moravian feud.
12 April 1125 – 14 February 1140Duchy of Bohemia
Otto II the Black (Ota II. Černý)1085 Second son of Otto I and Euphemia of Hungary21 September 1109 – 18 February 1126Duchy of Olomouc (with Brno)Sophia of Berg[cs; pl; sk; uk] 1113 three children18 February 1126 aged 40/1Ruled in Olomouc, since 1091 with his brother Svatopluk. Acquired Brno in 1123.
Conrad II (Konrád II)c. 1100/10? Son of Luitpold I and Ida of Austria[cs; sr]1123–1161Duchy of ZnojmoMaria of Serbia 1132 four children1161 aged c. 50/51 or c. 60/61?Received his heritage in 1123.
Wenceslaus Henry (Václav Jindřich)1107 Son of Svatopluk (I)18 February 1126 – 1 March 1130Duchy of OlomoucUnmarried1 March 1130 aged 22/3Heirs of previous rulers of their portions, after Otto II's death inherited their respective inheritances.
Vratislaus (II) (Vratislav)c. 1100/11 Brno Son of Ulrich (II) and Adelaide18 February 1126 – 6 August 1156Duchy of BrnoA Russian princess 1132 three children6 August 1156 Brno aged 45/6
Luitpold (II) (Lupolt Olomoucký)1102 Son of Bořivoj II and Helbirga of Austria1 March 1130–1137Duchy of OlomoucUnmarried1143 aged 40/1Appointed and deposed by Sobeslaus, then the senior duke in Bohemia, who replaced him in Olomouc with his own son.
Vladislaus[cs; pl; ru; uk] (Vladislav)c.1100? First son of Sobeslaus I and Adelaide of Hungary (II)1137–1140Duchy of OlomoucDaughter of Albert the Bear no children1165 aged 64/5?Probably resigned, expecting to succeed in Bohemia; however it was another Vladislaus who ended up ascending the seniority position in Bohemia.
Vladislaus II & I (Vladislav II & I)c. 1110 Son of Vladislaus I and Richeza of Berg14 February 1140 – 11 January 1158 (as Duke) 11 January 1158–1172 (as King)Duchy of BohemiaGertrude of Austria 1140 six children Judith of Thuringia 1155 three children18 January 1174 Meerane aged 63/4Resigned in 1172.
Otto III (Ota III)1122 Son of Otto II and Sophia of Berg[cs; pl; sk; uk]1140 – 12 May 1160Duchy of OlomoucDurancia five children12 May 1160 aged 37/8
Spytihněv (II)[cs; de; fr; nl; pl]c.1130? Son of Vratislaus (II)6 August 1156–1182Duchy of BrnoUmarried1199 aged 68/9?In 1182, abdicated for Conrad Otto of Znojmo
Brno annexed to Znojmo
Frederick (Bedřich)1142 Son of Vladislaus II and Gertrude of Austria12 May 1160–1173Duchy of OlomoucElizabeth of Hungary 1157 six children25 March 1189 aged 46/7
1172–1173 1178 – 25 March 1189Duchy of Bohemia
Ulrich (III)1134 Second son of Sobeslaus I and Adelaide of Hungary (II)1173 – 18 October 1177Duchy of OlomoucCecilia of Thuringia no children Sophia of Meissen no children18 October 1177 aged 42/3
Sobeslaus II the Prince of the Peasants (Soběslav II. kníže sedláků)1128 Third son of Sobeslaus I and Adelaide of Hungary (II)1173–1178Duchy of BohemiaElisabeth of Greater Poland no children29 January 1180 aged 51/2
Wenceslaus II1137 Fourth son of Sobeslaus I and Adelaide of Hungary (II)18 October 1177–1178Duchy of OlomoucUnmarriedc.1192 aged 54/5Abdicated for Conrad III.
9 September 1191–1192Duchy of Bohemia
Olomouc annexed to Znojmo
Conrad III Otto (Konrád III. Ota)c. 1136 Son of Conrad II and Maria of Serbia1161–1182Duchy of ZnojmoHellicha of Wittelsbach before 1176 no children9 September 1191 aged 54/5United Znojmo and Olomouc. Brno joined in 1182, when he also became the first Margrave of Moravia.
1182 – 9 September 1191Margraviate of Moravia
1189 – 9 September 1191Duchy of Bohemia
Bretislaus III Henry (Břetislav III. Jindřich)1137 Son of Henry[cs] and Margaret (?)1193 – 15/19 June 1197Duchy of BohemiaUnmarried15/19 June 1197 aged 59/60Son of Henry, brother of King Vladislaus II. Also Bishop of Prague (1182–97).
Vladislaus III Henry (Vladislav III. Jindřich)1137 Second son of Vladislaus II and Judith of Thuringia22 June – 6 December 1197Duchy of BohemiaHeilwida no children12 August 1222Left no descendants. After his death, Moravia became an appanage of Bohemian princes.
December 1197 – 12 August 1222Margraviate of Moravia
Premislaus Ottokar I (Přemysl Otakar I)1155 First son of Vladislaus II and Judith of Thuringia1192–1193 6 December 1197 – 15 December 1230Duchy of Bohemia (until 1198) Kingdom of Bohemia (from 1198)Adelaide of Meissen 1178 (annulled 1199) one child Constance of Hungary 1199 nine children15 December 1230 Prague aged 74/5First king of hereditary royal title, confirmed by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1212 by issuing the Golden Bull of Sicily.
Wenceslaus I the One-Eyed (Václav I. Jednooký)1205 Son of Premislaus Ottokar I and Constance of Hungary15 December 1230 – 23 September 1253Kingdom of BohemiaKunigunde of Hohenstaufen 1224 five children23 December 1253 Králův Dvůr aged 47/8
Premislaus Ottokar II The Iron and Golden King (Přemysl Otakar II. král železný a zlatý)1233 Městec Králové Son of Wenceslaus I and Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen23 December 1253 – 26 August 1278Kingdom of BohemiaMargaret of Austria 11 February 1252 Hainburg an der Donau (annulled 1261) no children Kunigunda Rostislavna of Halych 25 October 1261 Pressburg three children26 August 1278 Dürnkrut aged 44/5Also Duke of Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Friuli and margrave of Carniola.
Regencies of Kunigunda Rostislavna of Halych (1278–1285) and Otto V, Margrave of Brandenburg (1278–1283)Also Duke of Cracow (from 1291) and King of Poland (1300–1305).
Wenceslaus II (Václav II)27 September 1271 PragueSon of Premislaus Ottokar II and Kunigunda Rostislavna of Halych26 August 1278 – 21 June 1305Kingdom of BohemiaJudith of Austria January 1285 Cheb ten children Elizabeth Richeza of Poland 26 May 1303 Prague one child21 June 1305 Prague aged 33
Wenceslaus III (Václav III)6 October 1289 Son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Austria21 June 1305 – 4 August 1306Kingdom of BohemiaViola of Cieszyn 5 October 1305 Brno no children4 August 1306 Olomouc aged 16Uncrowned (as Bohemian king). Also King of Hungary (1301–1305) and King of Poland.
Anna (Anna Přemyslovna)10 October 1290 Daughter of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Austria4 August 1306 – 1306 3/4 July 1307 – 3 December 1310Kingdom of BohemiaHenry 1306 no children3 September 1313 Olomouc aged 16Heiresses of Bohemia, they were the true inheritors of the power claimed by their husbands during the succession crisis. Of the three, Rudolf had the weakest claim, and also the lowest popularity. The conflict was settled when, in 1310, Elizabeth and John invaded Prague, and defeated their opponents, Anna and Henry.
Henry of Carinthia (Jindřich Korutanský)1265 Son of Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia and Elisabeth of BavariaAnna 1306 no children Adelaide of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1313 two children Beatrice of Savoy 1327 no children2 April 1335 Tirol aged 69/70
Elisabeth Richeza of Poland (Eliška-Rejčka)1 September 1288 Poznań Daughter of Przemysł II of Poland and Richeza of Sweden1306 – 3/4 July 1307Kingdom of BohemiaWenceslaus II 26 May 1303 Prague one child Rudolf 16 October 1306 Prague no children19 October 1335 Brno aged 47
Rudolf of Habsburg the Good (Rudolf Habsburský, Rudolf Dobrý)c. 1281 Vienna Eldest son of Albert I of Germany and Elisabeth of Gorizia-TyrolBlanche of France 25 May 1300 one child Elisabeth Richeza 16 October 1306 Prague no children3/4 July 1307 Horažďovice aged 26
Elisabeth (Eliška Přemyslovna)20 January 1292 Prague Daughter of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Austria3 December 1310 – 28 September 1330Kingdom of BohemiaJohn 1 September 1310 Prague seven children28 September 1330 Prague aged 38
John of Luxembourg the Blind (Jan Lucemburský, Jan Slepý)10 August 1296 Luxembourg Son of Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor and Margaret of Brabant3 December 1310 – 26 August 1346Elisabeth 1 September 1310 Prague seven children Beatrice of Bourbon December 1334 Vincennes one child26 August 1346 Crécy-en-Ponthieu aged 50

The Late Kingdom of Bohemia: from the House of Luxembourg to Austria-Hungary (1310–1918)

Kings of Bohemia
House of Luxembourg
John the Blind (Jan Lucemburský)1310–1346Son-in-law of Wenceslaus II.
Charles IV (Karel I.)1346–1378Son of John. Also Holy Roman Emperor as Charles IV.
Wenceslaus IV (Václav IV.)1378–1419Son of Charles I. Also King of the Romans until 1400.
Sigismund (Zikmund)1419–1437Brother of Wenceslaus IV. Ruled effective 1436–1437 only (because of the Hussite Revolution). Also Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary.
House of Habsburg
Albert (Albrecht Habsburský)1437–1439Son-in-law of Sigismund. Also King of the Romans and of Hungary.
Interregnum1440–1453The succession of Albert's son was not recognized by the Czech nobility for most of this era; the land was administered by the Landfrieden (provincial and territorial).
Ladislaus the Posthumous (Ladislav Pohrobek)1453–1457Son of Albert born after his father's death. Also King of Hungary.
Non-Dynastic
George of Podebrady (Jiří z Poděbrad)1458–1471Elected king from the Czech noble family House of Kunštát. Although he had descendants, the succession devolved to the prince from Polish kingdom.
Matthias I (Matyáš I. Korvín)1469–1490King of Hungary, elected by the insurgent Catholic Czech aristocrats as anti-king in 1469, but never crowned. In 1479, he agreed to limit his rule to Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, while retaining his title.
House of Jagiellon
Vladislaus II the Jagiellonian (Vladislav II. Jagellonský)1471–1516Nephew of Ladislaus the Posthumous; elected on request of his predecessor George. Also King of Hungary after 1490.
Louis the Jagiellonian (Ludvík Jagellonský)1516–1526Son of Vladislaus II. Also King of Hungary.
House of Habsburg
Ferdinand I1526–1564Brother-in-law of Louis; elected king. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor-elect from 1558.
Maximilian I (Maxmilián I.)1564–1576Son of Ferdinand I, grandson of Vladislaus II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Rudolph II (Rudolf II.)1576–1612Son of Maximilian I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Matthias II (Matyáš II.)1612–1615Brother of Rudolph II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Ferdinand II1615–1619,1620-1637Cousin of Matthias. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
House of Wittelsbach
Frederick I (Fridrich I.)1619–1620Elected by the Crown's Estates at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, but after losing the Battle of White Mountain, he fled the country.
House of Habsburg
Ferdinand III1637–1657Son of Ferdinand II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor. From this time on, Bohemia no longer had an elective monarchy, with the Habsburgs having imposed their exclusive rule at the Battle of the White Mountain.
Ferdinand IV1646–1654Son of Ferdinand III. Junior co-monarch during his father's reign. Also King of Hungary and King of the Romans.
Leopold I1657–1705Brother of Ferdinand IV. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Joseph I (Josef I.)1705–1711Son of Leopold I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Charles II (Karel II.)1711–1740Brother of Joseph I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VI.
Maria Theresa (Marie Terezie)1740–1741,1743-1780Daughter of Charles II. Also Queen of Hungary.
House of Wittelsbach
Charles Albert (Karel Albrecht)1741–1743Son-in-law of Joseph I. Anti-king to Maria Theresa during the War of the Austrian Succession. Also Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VII.
House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Joseph II (Josef II.)1780–1790Son of Maria Theresa. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Leopold II1790–1792Brother of Joseph II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
Francis I (František I.)1792–1835Son of Leopold II. Also King of Hungary, Holy Roman Emperor to 1806, Emperor of Austria from 1804.
Ferdinand V1835–1848Son of Francis I. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Last crowned King of Bohemia. Forced to abdicate during the Revolution of 1848.
Franz Joseph I (František Josef I.)1848–1916Nephew of Ferdinand V. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
Charles III (Karel III.)1916–1918Grandnephew of Francis Joseph I. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Ruled briefly during World War I; in November 1918 renounced participation in state affairs but did not abdicate.

See also

Notes