Vratislav II - Definition and Overview

Vratislav II (died January 14 1092) was the first king of Bohemia.

The son of Bretislav I, Vratislav became Duke of Bohemia in 1061. Vratislav came to prominence on June 9 1075 when he helped the German King Henry IV to crush the Saxon revolt at Homburg-on-Unstrut. A loyal ally of Henry IV, Vratislav raised an army to serve in Henry's Italian campaign of 1081. The Czechs distinguished themselves in the capture of Rome for which Vratislav was crowned King of Bohemia on June 15 1085. Vratislav's title was not hereditary and was to be regarded as a gift of the emperor. He died in 1092 leaving his brother Konrad of Moravia as Duke only.