The first historically documented Czech princess, the first noble Christian woman in Bohemia, the first Czech female martyr and first female saint. As a ruler, she stood at the foundation of the first Přemyslid state, and rightly belongs among the patrons of the Czech lands. She is also the spiritual protector of grandmothers and mothers, perceived as such by Czech princesses and queens when they turned to her in prayer for help during childbirth or illness among their children. Ludmila was the daughter of a prince from Pšov Castle in the area of today’s Mělník. She was born around the year 860. While the neighbouring Great Moravian Empire had already welcomed Cyril and Methodius in 863, paganism was still thriving in the Bohemian lands. At the age of fourteen or fifteen, Ludmila was wed to the Bohemian prince Bořivoj, whose seat was at Levý Hradec. Bořivoj soon discovered that Christianity was a means of increasing his prestige, and on one of his visits to the Great Moravian Empire he was baptised. This probably happened in 883. Legend has it that Ludmila was also baptised then, but other sources claim it was a little later. Church of St. Ludmilla | Source: Prague City Tourism Bořivoj brought the first Slavic priests to Bohemia and built the first Christian church of St Clement. He later moved his seat to the present-day Prague Castle, which was home to the princes’ court until then. The Přemyslid family proceeded to rule the Bohemian lands from this site for the following centuries. For Ludmila, Christianity was a crucial inner turning point. Legend-writers claim that she experienced the new faith just as deeply as paganism before it. She lived an exemplary Christian life, caring for the poor, giving alms, supporting priests and building new churches. Ludmila was only 29 years old when Prince Bořivoj died. The throne was taken by their eldest son Spytihněv, who ruled for twenty years. He was succeeded by his younger brother Vratislav, who founded the Church of St George at Prague Castle, where he was buried in 921 after losing his life in a military campaign. Vratislav left behind two heirs, Wenceslas and Boleslav. Because they were still minors, the nobles assigned governance over the Bohemian duchy to Vratislav’s wife Drahomíra. However, they entrusted the education of the boys to Ludmila, who to them represented the regency. Hence, Ludmila remained at Prague Castle and took care of her grandsons. She devoted herself particularly to the elder Wenceslas, who was a gifted pupil, guiding him towards faith and Christian virtues, ensuring his education. St. Ludmila, stained glass, Olomouc | Source: www.wikipedia.com The dual division of power and influence at Prague Castle caused frequent disputes between the two princesses. Legends describe these clashes as religious, between the “pagan” Drahomíra and the Christian Ludmila, but they were actually rather political. Ludmila finally gave in and departed for her castle in Tetín near Prague. Yet this was not enough for Drahomíra. She sent her mercenaries to Tetín, led by Tunna and Gommon, whose Norse names suggest they were assassins for hire. On 15 September 921, after a brief skirmish with the castle garrison, Tetín was conquered and an hour after sunset Tunna and Gommon entered the old princess’s chamber with swords unsheathed. Ludmila is said to have begged for death by the sword, following the example of the first Christian martyrs, but the murderers denied her wish and strangled her with a veil. She did not even receive a Christian burial – the surviving servants just hastily buried her body near the castle wall. Wonderful things began to happen around Ludmila’s final resting place, a pleasant scent was said to emanate from the grave and bright lights would blaze at night. All this encouraged esteem for the princess, who had been respected by the people even during her lifetime. Consequently, Drahomíra had a church dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel built over Ludmila’s grave so that the miracles could be attributed to him. The church was later dedicated to St John of Nepomuk and still stands in Tetín today. A church dedicated to Ludmila was built in Tetín only much later, in the 1780s. The stone on which she is said to have fallen at the moment of her death is housed in the lower part of the main altar with an image of Ludmila teaching little Wenceslas. Church of St Ludmila, Tetín | Source: www.facebook.com | Photo Michal Bařinka When the young Wenceslas ascended to the princely throne in 925, he had his grandmother’s remains transported with all honours from Tetín to St George’s Basilica at Prague Castle. Because the cult of saints in the early church spread depending on public veneration, Ludmila soon came to be regarded as a saint as well. Later Přemyslid rulers, her descendants, who revered her as the holy “foremother” of the dynasty, and the Přemyslid princesses and queens who prayed to her for help during childbirth or illness among their children, contributed to this veneration. Around 976, the first Benedictine women’s abbey in Bohemia was founded near the St George’s Basilica at Prague Castle, where Ludmila’s remains were laid to rest. Princess Mlada, daughter of Boleslav I, the younger of Ludmila’s grandsons, became its abbess. According to tradition, women from the Přemyslid family continued to lead the abbey in the future, thus promoting respect for Saint Ludmila. The decree of the Bishop of Prague from 1142 is considered to be the official recognition of Ludmila’s sanctity, for he did not allow her relics to be moved without papal approval, as was the rule for saints. Ludmila’s cult reached its peak during the reign of Charles IV, under which Princess Ludmila’s grave was fitted with a magnificent tombstone.