A Closer Walk

"Good King Wenseslas looked out on the feast of Stephan..." from the Christmas carol, "Good King Wenseslas." So who was Good King Wenseslas? Was he a real person?
There was a Wenseslas who was born February 26,1361, in Nurnberg and died August 16,1419, in Prague. Prague was the capital of the Duchy of Bohemia, and is now the capital of the Czech Republic. Bohemia was part of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg's Austrian Empire. Wenseslas was the son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles the IV, and became King of Bohemia in 1363 and King of the Romans in 1376 (sourced from Britannica online). But as best I can determine this is not the Wenseslas that the carol was written about.
According to History of the World online, the Wenseslas that the carol speaks about was not even a king in his lifetime; more about that later. This Wenseslas, often written as Wenseslaus, was a Duke of Bohemia and was born sometime between 907 and 911. He was the son of Vratislaus of the Premyslid dynasty and his wife, Drahomira, daughter of a pagan tribal chief. Although raised as a pagan, Drahomira was baptized at the time of her wedding to Vratislaus. Wenseslaus's paternal grandparents, Borivoj and Ludmila, were converted to Christianity and baptized by St. Methodius in 874. Ludmila took Wensaslaus's upbringing upon herself because she doubted the sincerity of Drahomira's christianity. He was educated in Budec, which is near Prague, and learned to read, write, and converse in Latin and Greek.
At the death of Wenseslaus's father Vratislaus, his mother Drahomira became Regent for Wensaslaus. Ludmila's concerns about the sincerity of Drahomira's christianity were correct as she began repressing the Christian nobles and persecuting priests. Ludmila fled to her castle where she was later assassinated by Drahomira's companions on the 15th of September 921. It is believed she was strangled by her veil.
When Wensaslaus turned eighteen he became the Duke of Bohemia and sent his mother Drahomila into exile. He pardoned her shortly after and had Ludmila's remains brought to Prague. Wensaslaus was loyal to his christian faith and according to the legends spent long hours in prayer, vowed himself to virginity, and provided for the poor. He was loved by his people but many of the nobles were not pleased by his religious endeavors and his monk-like style of reign. Out of a desire to avoid bloodshed Wensaslaus signed a treaty with Henry 1st of Saxony to pay taxes to Henry's country which was Bohemia's neighbor to the north.
Wensaslaus was assassinated by his brother and three of his brother's companions. The fatal blow was delivered by his brother Boleslaus on the 28th of September 935. Soon after his death he was declared a saint and martyr. King Henry 1st of Saxony posthumously declared Wensaslaus a King. So Good King Wensaslaus was a King, but not while he was alive.
The lyrics of the carol about Good King Wensaslaus were written by John Mason Neale in 1853 and set to the melody of the thirteenth century spring carol, "Tempest adest floridum" which means Eastertime has come. The carol talks about Wensaslaus going on a long journey and braving harsh winter conditions to give alms to a poor peasant. The legends claim that Wensaslaus did brave the harsh winter conditions but gave alms to many poor people and not just the one. So now we know. My comment: This Wensaslaus is a marvelous example for us to look to in our own walk of faith. Not necessarily living the lifestyle of a monk, but following his practice of caring for the poor and his example of benevolence toward his fellow man. May we approach life with grace and humility, especially this time of year.
"Good King Wensaslaus looked out on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even; Brightly shone the moon that night, tho' the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gath'ring winter fuel." From the carol "Good King Wensaslaus," first published in "Carols for Christmas-Tide" 1853.