Boleslaus III, Duke of Bohemia

Who was Boleslaus III, Duke of Bohemia?

Boleslaus III, called the Red or the Blind, was Duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 and also briefly during the year 1003. He was the "worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne."

The eldest son of Boleslav II "the Pious", Boleslav III was a weak ruler in whose chaotic reign Bohemia became a pawn in the long war between the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and Bolesław the Brave, King of Poland.

By 1002, a revolt organized by Vršovci grandees forced Boleslav to flee to Germany, where he was received by Henry I, Margrave of Austria. At first Henry ordered his guest's arrest because of an old offence, but soon forgave him and promised support. Boleslaus' kinsman Vladivoj took the Czech throne, but he was an alcoholic who died within a year. After the death of Vladivoj in 1003, the Bohemian nobles invited Jaromír and Oldřich, sons of Boleslaus II, back from exile. In turn, they each later assumed the throne of Bohemia.

On 9 February 1003, Boleslav the Red was restored to authority with armed support from Bolesław the Brave of Poland. Boleslav's brothers Jaromír and Oldřich fled to Germany and placed themselves under the protection of Henry II.