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The real story behind the carol Good King Wenceslas

St Wenceslaus Statue in Prague.

By Elizabeth Davis

Good King Wenceslas may be one of the most popular carols ever written – but the story behind it is bizarre and gruesome

The man we know as ‘Good King Wenceslas’ was actually Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. He was also known as Vaclac the Good, or Svatý Václav in Czech and lived from c.907 to 28 September 935. 

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

Young Wenceslas

Wenceslas didn’t come from Christian stock: his grandfather had been converted to Christianity by Saints Cyril and Methodius. And his mother was the daughter of a pagan tribal chief – though she was baptized before she was married. 

When young Wenceslas’ father died there was a power vacuum: the young boy’s mother was banished and his grandmother killed by assassins – it’s said she was strangled with her own veil. 

But once the dust had settled, the people of Bohemia decided they’d like Wenceslas to be their ruler. His mother ruled as regent until young Wenceslas reached the age of 18… at which point he promptly banished her. 

And when he came of age he banished his mother. To try and avoid disputes, the country was split in two and half given to Wenceslas’ younger brother, Boleslaus. 

His assassination 

But Boleslaus wasn’t happy with the set up and in September 935 he plotted with a group of noblemen to kill his brother. 

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

We even know the date: 28 September. When Wenceslas was later canonized, this day was made his Saint’s Day. 

Saint Wenceslas appears in a dream

After his death

Wenceslas was regarded as a martyr and saint almost immediately after his death but he wasn’t promoted from Duke of Bohemia to King of Bohemia until Holy Roman Emperor Otto I gave him the title posthumously a few years after his death. 

People in Bohemia and England in particular began to venerate St Wenceslas. One 12th-century preacher said: 

“His deeds I think you know better than I could tell you; for, as is read in his Passion, no one doubts that, rising every night from his noble bed, with bare feet and only one chamberlain, he went around to God’s churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted by every difficulty.” 

His remains are in St Vitus’ Cathedral in Prague and his Saint’s Day is a public holiday in the Czech Republic. 

Saint Wenceslaus and his Blanik Knights set off from the mountain

The legend

There’s also a brilliant legend attached to the statue of St Wenceslas in Wenceslaus Square in Prague. 

The story goes that if the Czech Republic is in danger, the statue of King Wencelaus will come to life, raise a sleeping army and reveal a legendary sword to bring peace to the land. 

The carol

So there’s something to think about next time you sing Good King Wenceslas. 

The words to the carol were written in 1853 by John Mason Neale but the melody is much older – it’s a 13th-century tune called ‘Tempus adest floridum’ in praise of the spring. 

The carol was written for the Feast of St Stephen, better known as Boxing Day. And it celebrates the long tradition of charitable giving on the Second Day of Christmas. 

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

Here are the words: 

Good King Wenceslas looked out 
On the feast of Stephen, 
When the snow lay round about 
Deep and crisp and even; 

Brightly shone the moon that night 
Though the frost was cruel, 
When a poor man came in sight, 
Gath’ring winter fuel. 

‘Hither, page, and stand by me, 
If thou know’st it, telling 
Yonder peasant, who is he? 
Where and what his dwelling?’ 

‘Sire, he lives a good league hence, 
Underneath the mountain, 
Right against the forest fence, 
By Saint Agnes’ fountain.’ 

‘Bring me flesh and bring me wine, 
Bring me pine logs hither, 
Thou and I will see him dine 
When we bear them thither.’ 

Page and monarch forth they went, 
Forth they went together, 
Through the rude wind’s wild lament 
And the bitter weather. 

‘Sire, the night is darker now 
And the wind blows stronger; 
Fails my heart, I know not how, 
I can go no longer.’ 

‘Mark my footsteps, good my page, 
Tread thou in them boldly: 
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage 
Freeze thy blood less coldly.’ 

In his master’s steps he trod, 
Where the 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 poor 
Shall yourselves find blessing.

 

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The St. Wenceslas Crown is considered to be the most valuable item of the entire coronation set. It was Charles IV, our most prominent ruler, who collected the splendid precious stones.

The Czech Crown of St. Wenceslas Location:  Prague

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV had it made in 1347 for his coronation and forthwith he dedicated it to the first patron saint of the country St. Wenceslas and bequeathed it as a state crown for the coronation of future Bohemian kings, his successors to the Bohemian throne. On the orders of Charles IV the new Royal Crown was to be permanently deposited in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle). It was used last time for the coronation of Bohemian King Ferdinand V in 1836. Today, the royal crown only is displayed every five years and are locked away in Prague Castle, only opened by the keys granted to several leaders of the Czech Republic.

Statue of Prince Vaclav from his chapel at Prague Castle

The Sword of St. WenceslasLocation: Prague

St. Wenceslas’ sword is part of Czech Royal Jewels together with Crown of Saint Wenceslas and other artifacts. It is thought to have been a coronation Sword. In the 19th century it was believed that it was an authentic weapon, the prevailing opinion at the beginning of the 20th century was that the sword was Gothic and that Charles IV probably replaced the similar older sword in the treasure of the Cathedral of St. Vitus that was mentioned in the articles of inventory from 1333.   Jewels with sword are stored in St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague Castle).

The Royal Apple in the hand of King Wenceslas IV.

The Royal AppleLocation: ​PragueThe Apple is made of 18 carat gold and consists of two flattened hemispheres linked by a decorative circular band and crowned with a fairly large cross. The circle under the cross bears the inscription: DOMINE IN VIRTUTE TUA LETABITUR REX ET SUPER SALUTARE TUAM EXULTABIT  (O Lord, in Thy strength the king will be glad and in Thy salvation how greatly he will rejoice). The richly ornamented decorations feature predominantly precious stones and pearls, while the slight little figures of six sphinxes on the base of the cross form a charming detail. The gold, the red spinels, and the blue sapphires, in places emphasized by colourful enamel are striking in their harmony. The surface of both hemispheres is covered with an extremely precisely wrought relief of figures, thematically connected with the coronation.

The Royal Sceptre was painted into many paintings, thus taking the place of a sword and shield like this image of Prince Vaclav.

The Royal SceptreLocation: PragueThe Sceptre was forged of gold of equal purity as the Royal Apple. It is 67 cm long and weighs 1,013 grams. In the set of Crown Jewels, this Sceptre and Apple replaced older ones from the time of the rule of Charles IV. It is decorated with four sapphires, five spinels and sixty-two pearls.  ​It consists of several differently shaped parts connected with rings, with a more striking feature of a row of pearls at the base of the handle. The entire surface of all the parts is covered by a finely engraved decoration whose dominant feature consists in the motive of vine tendrils, leaves, and flowers or acanthuses.

Rudolph put Otakar II’s casket on display in Vienna before it was moved to a monastery in Znojmo, Moravia.The coffin, which contained Otakar’s crown and scepter, was transferred to Prague in 1296.

The Crown of Otakar II. Location: ​Prague

Following Otakar’s death at the Battle of Marchfield, Rudolph put Otakar II’s casket on display in Vienna before it was moved to a monastery in Znojmo, Moravia. The coffin, which contained Otakar’s crown and scepter, was transferred to Prague in 1296, but was not placed in Saint Vitus’ Cathedral until 1373. The crown of King Otakar II. is kept in the treasury of Prague Castle.

Following the death of Prince Wenceslas but his brother, the holy relics were moved to several places but now rest in Czechia and brought to Stare Boleslav once a year for a ceremony.

The Holy Relic Skull of  St. Wenceslas Location:  Stara Boleslav, CZSoon after his death, Prince Wenceslas was worshiped as a martyr and his cult grew strong mainly in the 11th century. The place of his death became a popular pilgrimage site. His skull, now a relic, has been scientifically dated to a near 1000 years ago…..about the time of his death at the hands of his brother, Boleslav. On the feast day of St. Vaclav, the holy relic is brought from Prague by the Arch Bishop of Prague and marched through the town of his murder, Stara Boleslav. That day is September 28th.

The helmet’s nose-piece probably represents thefigure of Jesus Christ, but some are of the opinion that it may be the German god Odin. Based on expert analysis, the piece may have been used during actual fighting.

The Helmet of St. Wenceslas Location:  PragueThe helmet is not complete; the upper part of the calotte is missing. This damage was done at some point in the course of previous centuries. Apart from the damage caused by hitting the helmet with a sharp object, the experts also discovered a flaw probably caused by the fall of the helmet. The helmet is on display at Prague Castle.

Emperor Leopold II as the king of Bohemia, among other titles.

The Coronation CloakLocation: PragueThe Coronation Cloak, which has been preserved at Prague Castle, is made of luxurious silk material, called gold lily. A pattern of the cloth is made of a silk thread wound around a flat golden wire (purl). The design of the cloak itself is semi-circular, without sleeves, prolonged at the back to form a train.   ​The last king to be clad in the Czech coronation attire was Ferdinand V when he was crowned the Czech king in 1836. Since then, the coronation apparel is only of historical and art-historical significance.

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