}
A
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, PEÇEMBER 14, 1957.
KING WENCESLAUS WAS
NOT SO "GOOD"
By LESLIE ARMOUR
ND so it goes: A kindly old monarch, concerned about the poor peasants scratching in the snow for his winter fuel.
The warmth of his heart, we are told, was so great. that his very footprints were enough to warm his page who trudged after him with the ment and wine to cheer the poor peasant,
History does not tell quite the same story.
This samu Wenceslaus, oppears, was once Informed of
in
21 massacre of 3,000. Jews hia territory. Bu took im- mediate action. He confiscated the property they left behind.
And this Wenceslaus allowed John Huss to be burned, at the Mike despite promises of jurtection.
Fortunately, the story, is not. entirely one-sided.
In his early years, Wenceslaus appeared in be the darling of fortune.
of
Ite inherited the throne of the rich kingdom of Bohemia (now the centroi part
In 1373, Nat Czechoslovakia) leng afterward, he was crown- ed King of Brandenburg and, three years later, so great was
ເຄ power, he was made
Emperor of All the Romans, a title which meant, in fact, king
From another relative, he picked up
Duchy Luxemburg and, finally, Kingdom of Hungary,
of all the Germans.
the
of the
aldcrable simplification of Church ritual.
The citizens of Prague, aided by Wenecalauk, were, Indeed, KO impressed by the young inan that bey built the famous Bethlehem Chapel for him to preach in. And, at Churles installed University, Huss was as Dean of Philosophy.
For obvious reasons. hoth these attacks ran counter to, the Interests of both camps." Those who had made no good thing out of one Pope or an- other clearly did not want to Lee both go.
Furthermore, Wenceslaus had incurred, the wruth Of his nobles over his attempts to
increase the centralised control of his empires.
In 1400, he was deposed ind hig half-brother Slgustund, installed.
Huss, meanwhile, continued
c in business but in the face mounting objections from his ceclesiastical superiors who, by this
He was f hot the most powerful man in Europe at the end of the fourteenth century, at least very close to being so
time, were Jar more is only rival of any con farmed by his Assaulle on :cqusnce
Charles VI of ritual than by his AILA
complaints France.
Ugainst corruption.
At the end of the century, when be was nearing 40. Wenceslaus went to Paris on a very delicate miralon.
Siganmund, who had
his head-
A slight confusion of Saints and Fables
"Good King Wenceslaus looked out,
"On the Feast of Stephen,
"When the snow lay round about
"Deep and crisp and even......*
resue should he be sentenced with
that
of
another
ал
taken by the Church and that Wenceslaus who lived nearly over all Wenceslaus' Interests Wenceslaus knew this but did 600 years earlier. gave him passive support. 101 warn Juss for fear of being This carlier Wenceslaus was
Then,
Dover a king. But he was o in 1404, Signsmund deposed again. decided to make
Huss, however, accepted Jo Duke of Bohemia and he was faith the guarantee of Inter canonised and appears There were, AL that time, quarters in Hungary end
• Rood two rival Popes, Benedict XIV somewhat chastened Wenceslaus good faith and believed that St Wenceslaus in the Roman and Boniface IX. There was restored to the throne of the Church would
Solution the Bohemia though seemed ガウ impasse created by their rival other titles. เชษ and both Church and State were imperilled by the ellvided loyalties they produced, As always, in such matters. there were
to
who hnd
financial interests in promoting the claims of one or the other and, in the face of the pressure of money, it was very dimeult to persunde anyone to change pides.
The financial pressures had led to corruption mining some members of the clergy and that only made the problem worst.
not dare Catholio calendar and stands as
Bie
patron saint of Baliemia.
no to his to Bout Signsound.
In 1415, he Was convicte:t and sentenced to be burned.
Neither king made any move to save him and he was duly executed.
Huss His support of
was
gain active.
By 1411, Huzs hai been
virtually outlawed By his Church and in 1413 he WAS summoned to the Council of Constance to explain himself. The implication was that he was to be tried for heresy.
meant that he would probably be extruted for heresy.
That
Wenecslus developed a two- Iluss felt strongly that he
He ruled, precariously, for three or four years -- and then he was murdered by his pogan brother BolcAlaw.
The Christian community took 11. for granted that he was murdered on account of his religion but even Roman Catholic historians are ΠΟΥ agreed that that played only a small part in the struggle was really a dispute
In Prague, where the public Wenceslaus was was strongly in favour of Huss,
disgraced for which his part in the proceedings and, over power between two groups though he remained king in of nobles. nrme, he was largely stripped
of his authority.
Ho dled, broken man, with
pronged stuck on the problem. should make his case known. another rebellion on his hands,
Abroad. he proposed to On the other hand he had, of in 1410.
Wenceslaus was entered however, in the roll of martyrs and, much later, canonised.
There the
Inatter rested
until the middle of the nine-
Englishman, 3. M. Neole, wrote the now famous words to tho
Charles VI of France that both course, no desire to be burned How, then, did Wenceslaus teenth contury when Popes be prevalled upon-lf at the stoke and he knew full get the reputation described in necessary forced to resign and well that he was safe so long the Christmas Carol?
an enurely new Pope chosen as he remained in Bohemia. The answer is that he has Claristus Curol and altached
in their stead.
At home he supported the young John Huss who was campaigning against bribery of clergymen und against forged
miracles.
He therefore applled for a profited enormously guarantee
of safe conduct from amalgamation of his Sigusmund and Wenceslaus.
It was granted in the nume or Signsmund who, apparently, was moved primarily by Huss, seeking to end Bome Wenceslaus' friendship for him. of the theological disputes Histerians believe that which were consplicsting the Spasmund never had 11 problem, also proposed a con- intention of coming to
Huss
by the them to a traditional tune, character Tempest adest Floridem.
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