How good was King wenceslas really?

The inspiration behind a well-loved Christmas carol

You may have heard of the carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’, but did you know that it is based on a real-life saint? Saint Wenceslaus was the duke of Bohemia from 921 until his assassination in 935, most likely at the hands of his own brother.

Wenceslaus’ brutal death saw him remembered as a Catholic martyr and his popularity soared. Although he was only a duke, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously bestowed “the regnal dignity and title” on him, which is why he is known as a king in the carol.