Wenceslaus, King and Martyr

Wenceslaus was born into the royal family of Bohemia and was raised a Christian by his grandmother. Christianity was not widespread throughout the land, and most nobility were very much against it. He assumed the throne shortly after the death of his father. Wenceslaus announced that he would support God’s law and endeavor to rule with justice and mercy. There is no evidence to support the particular deeds with which he is credited in the Christmas carol since it was written in England sometime during the seventeenth century. Saint Wenceslaus is the patron saint of Czech Republic.