Medieval History

The Přemyslid dynasty rose from legend to power, beginning with a farmer-prince and the prophetess Libuše, who foretold Prague’s glory. From Duke Wenceslas—martyred and later canonized—to the daring raids of Bretislav I and the vast empire of Ottokar II, they turned a small Slavic duchy into a Central European force. Their glittering courts, dramatic assassinations, and lasting mark on Prague’s architecture keep their story alive long after their line ended in 1306.

Edward I was born on June 17, 1239, the eldest son of King Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. His early years were marked by the turbulence of a kingdom still wrestling with the legacy of Magna Carta. Unlike his bookish father, Edward developed a love for war and governance, training as a knight and learning to lead men from a young age. These lessons in power and conflict would define his reign as one of England’s most formidable kings.