What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 14 February 2023.

Přemyslova was built in 1892.

As told here, Kosmas wrote in his chronicle that Přemysl Oráč (the Ploughman) was discovered by Libuše when a bunch of men threw a tantrum about a woman being in charge: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/23/prague-2-day-93-libusina/.

Upon being plucked from obscurity by a horse, Přemysl placed his staff in the ground. Three sprouts grew from this, of which only one survived, supposedly an omen that two of his sons with Libuše would die, but the third (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/20/prague-2-day-83-nezamyslova/) would continue the dynasty.

Přemysl’s shoes were made from bast (tree bark, probably from a linden). When he left to marry Libuše, he requested that these be taken with him, as a reminder that a peasant can rise to the highest rank, and for his followers to remain humble.

The Přemyslid dynasty, named after him, would last until 1306. It’s said that, at coronations, a pair of bast shoes were put on display.

There is a great sculpture of Libuše and Přemysl at Vyšehrad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C5%99emysl_the_Ploughman#/media/File:Premysl_and_Libuse_Vysehrad_Prague_CZ_815.jpg

Quite refreshing to tell the story of the husband *after* the story of the wife for once, isn’t it?