Adalbert of Prague

Saint Adalbert of Prague (in Polish Wojciech , in Czech Vojtěch ) was born towards 956 and deceased in 997. Half-brother of Radzim Gaudenty, it was bishop Prague at the 10th century and died in Martyr whereas it wanted to convert the Baltic tribes of Prussia to the Christianisme. Thereafter, it became the patron saint of the Bohemia, of the Poland, the Hungary and Prussia.

It was born with Libice nad Cidlinou in Bohemia, in the family of the Slavníkovci , powerful rival of the Přemyslides. Its family sends it to study during ten years with Magdeburg, under the supervision of the Adalbert archbishop, who will become later Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg. With died of its Master, it takes his name to pay homage to him.

The April 3rd 983, he becomes bishop of Prague at the request of Boleslav II of Bohemia. It is quickly disappointed by its faithful whose lifestyle had remained very pagan. Towards 989, it goes to Rome and asks to be discharged from its functions. It spends four years of exile in Italy where it becomes Moine in the Abbaye of the Mount-Cassin. In 992, at the request of the archbishop of Mainz, it becomes again bishop of Prague. It returns to Bohemia accompanied monks Bénédictin S. With the assistance Boleslav II, it founds in 993, the Monastère of Břevnov, the first Abbaye bénédictine of Bohemia.

He baptizes Géza of Hungary and his son Etienne. Having always bad relations with its faithful, it goes back to Rome in 994. The following year, its family is massacred by the men of Boleslav II. Absent from the country, Adalbert escapes death. It then decides to convert Prussia. The Duke Boleslas Ier Valiant the, future king de Pologne, supports it and a military escort until Gdańsk offers to him.

Adalbert meets a strong resistance on behalf of the Prussian tribes. The April 23rd 997, close to Elbląg, it is decapitated by the pagan and its head is impaled.

According to the Legend, the duke Boleslas Ier the Valiant one repurchased the body of the martyr at the price of his weight out of gold and made it bring back to Gniezno to be buried there. At once after the Canonization of Adalbert in 999, its tomb becomes a place of Pèlerinage and many biographies ( Vita Sancti Adalberti ) are written, in particular with Rome, Liege and Aachen. As of the year 1000, Othon III of the Holy roman Empire goes in pilgrimage in Gniezno, on the tomb of the saint.

In 1038, the troops of Břetislav Ier attack the Poland. They invade the Silesia, destroy Poznań and Gniezno in 1039, stealing the Relique of Adalbert saint. According to certain legends, the Poles succeeded in preserving it. Today, Adalbert has two tombs, one in the Cathédrale Saint-Guy of Prague, the other in Gniezno. The authenticity of the relics is doubtful. Thus, the saint with two cranium, with Prague, the other in Gniezno.

By its action, Adalbert made of Bohemia a nation which counts in Christian Europe. It also gave to Boleslas Ier Valiant legitimacy necessary to become king and to reinforce the position of Poland vis-a-vis the neighbor. It also influenced the policy of Othon III which rested on the Slaves to reinforce the Holy roman Empire.

He is celebrated the April 23rd.

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