Wenceslaus II and III
Persons, originating from Poland

Wenceslaus II

Born: September 27, in Prague, Bohemia
Died: June, 21 1305 in Prague
Name in Polish: Wacław II, name in Czech: Václav II
He was the only son of King Ottokar II of Bohemia and Ottokar's second wife Kunigunda. Wenceslaus II was the grandfather of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV. He was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. In 1291, Przemysł II, High Duke of Poland, ceded the sovereign Duchy of Kraków to Wenceslaus. After Przemysł's death in 1296, Wenceslaus became overlord of Poland and in 1300, he was crowned King of Poland. Wenceslaus II is considered as one of the most important Czech Kings. He built a great empire stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Danube river and established numerous cities, such as Plzeň in 1295. He won for his family three royal crowns (Bohemia, Hungary and Poland). The Kingdom of Bohemia was the largest producer of silver in Europe in his time. He created the penny of Prague, which was an important European currency for centuries.
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Wacław II, in the Codex Manesse        

Wenceslaus III
Born: October 6, 1289
Died: August 4, 1306 in Olomouc, Moravia.
Name in Polish: Wacław III, name in Czech: Václav III, name in Hungarian: Vencel.
He was by inheritance the King of Bohemia (1305–06), the King of Hungary (1301–05) and the King of Poland (1305–06). Wenceslaus III was the son of Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia and Poland, and Judith of Habsburg. During his short reign, the teenaged king faced the problem of significant internal quarrels in Hungary and in Poland. Wenceslaus was the last of the male Přemyslid rulers of Bohemia. More information


Polonica stamps:

Czech Republic 2006, 14 VI