What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 10 February 2023.

Soběslavova was named around 1892, but already existed before then.

Soběslav was the youngest son of Vratislav II, Bohemia’s first king (from 1085). In true Přemyslid style, his relationship with certain family members was not the best.

His older brother, Bořivoj II, was Duke of Bohemia from 1100 to 1107, but his relative, Svatopluk Olomoucký, seized the throne in 1107 and had both Bořivoj and Soběslav banished to Poland.

Bořivoj II tried to regain the throne after Svatopluk was assassinated, but it went to the middle brother, Vladislav I.

Soběslav became a prince in Brno and Znojmo when the two sides in this brotherly feud made up in 1115; he was promptly removed from these roles (and banished) in 1123 when he fell out with Vladislav again.

When Vladislav died in 1125, Soběslav returned and became Duke of Bohemia. This went down badly with Ota II. Černý, brother of the late Svatopluk, who claimed the throne and also had German backing.

Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor, subsequently sent troops in to get rid of Soběslav. This culminated in the Battle of Chlumec (1126), where Ota was killed and Soběslav captured Lothair (who was later freed).

(Painting by Adolf Liebscher)

In 1130, Soběslav uncovered a conspiracy to assassinate him. The main instigator was blinded and quartered, whereas another participant, Břetislav, son of Břetislav II (who had been Duke until 1100), was ‘merely’ blinded.

Soběslav died in 1140. Despite having at least four sons, the throne went to his nephew, Vladislav II, who would also become the second Bohemian king.

Soběslav was also the last king to have his primary residence at Vyšehrad; appropriately, he is buried in Saints Peter and Paul Basilica.