Publication details
1278 Rytířská smrt pomazaného krále
| Title in English | 1278 The chivalric death of the anointed king |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | With the assistance of Bohemian, but mainly imperial sources it is possible to reconstruct the king’s end at the battle near Dürrenkrut on 26th August 1278, one of the largest and undoubtedly also most important battle of Europe in the 13th century. When Přemysl Otakar II realized that the battle was lost, he decided to leave his life on the field with honour and accompanied by his personal guards numbering a few dozen men he plunged into the din of battle. He plunged into the attack against the warriors from Austria, who were in Rudolf’s third rank. Although with his guards he caused the enemy considerable losses, the numerical superiority was too great and gradually the men of his bodyguard were killed or captured, until he remained along, entirely exhausted, just like his warhorse. Then, apparently when the horse was off balance, the king was pulled down and on the ground his helm was knocked off by rapid hit with a club or mace; then he was taken into captivity, but he was apparently also relieved of his high-quality armour. He apparently managed to pull himself together still and seemingly without a normal rope was led away, but at that moment a group of riders appeared of which at least one of which felt personal hate for the Bohemian kind, supposedly for an earlier punishment of one of his relatives. He, perhaps from his horse, attacked the king with a spear (not even a sword can be excluded but a spear is more likely) and pierced him in the area of the neck or head, while already kneeling or lying with a sword, but perhaps a hunting knife or sabre, ran him through in the abdomen, or chest (it is also proof that he was already relieved of his ring armour). Then apparently those present in a frenzy dealt the king numerous other wounds, with one, led by a sword with great strength, split his skull. Then, Přemysl was undressed, not for booty (the undergarments had to have been destroyed), but for ignominy, and left lying entirely nude on the battlefield. |