LUDMILA, SAINT

born c. 860, near Melnk, Bohemia [now in Czech Republic] died Sept. 15, 921, Tetin Castle, near Podbrady; feast day September 16 Slavic martyr and patron of Bohemia, where she pioneered in establishing Christianity. She was grandmother of St. Wenceslas, the future prince of Bohemia. Ludmila married Borivoj, the first Czech prince to adopt Christianity. After their baptism by Archbishop St. Methodius of Sirmium, apostle of the Slavs, they built Bohemia's first Christian church, near Prague. Borivoj tried to induce his people to accept Christianity, but he was unsuccessful. After Borivoj died, Borivoj and Ludmila's son, Ratislav, married Drahomra, Wenceslas' mother. Entrusted with the care of Wenceslas, Ludmila brought him up as a Christian. After Ratislav's death, Bohemia was administered by anti-Christians, who opposed Ludmila and resented her influence over Wenceslas, whom she urged to take over the government and to maintain Christianity. Wenceslas' ascension to the throne about 921 worsened Ludmila's relations with the opposing party, particularly with Drahomra, who, as regent, favoured the pagans. An ensuing feud between Ludmila and Drahomra ended when agents entered Tetin Castle and strangled Ludmila, a deed that has traditionally been ascribed to Drahomra's instigation. Oral tradition honoured Ludmila with martyrdom. Soon the first legends arosea prologue on St. Ludmila in the Old Church Slavonic language and a Latin life based on it. The best-known legend is the 10th-century Latin life of Wenceslas and Ludmila written by the monk Christian.