Strange deaths of monarchs and monarchesses

Not all Czech rulers were given the chance to die in their own bed in the presence of their loved ones. Already Prince Wenceslas, later canonized patron saint of the Czech lands, was bestially beaten by the retinue of his younger brother Boleslav. Prince Jaromir was again stabbed by an unknown daredevil in the toilet at night. Similarly, the murderer of the last Premyslid, the young King Wenceslas III, remained unknown. Two Czech kings fell heroically in battle - Přemysl Otakar II. and John of Luxembourg - while another monarch, Louis of Jagiellon, died fleeing the battle. Some Czech rulers also fared badly. The widow of the first Christian Prince Bořivoj, later canonized Princess Ludmila, was strangled by hired assassins and Queen Johanna of Bavaria, the first wife of Wenceslas IV, was strangled by her husband's favourite hunting dog. In short, sitting on the monarch's throne often entailed considerable risks.