What's in a Prague street name

Božetěchova was built in 1892.

To start this one off, we have to take a look at the Sázava Monastery, located about 30 km south of Prague (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/02/18/prague-2-day-31-sazavska/). It was founded in 1032 by Duke Břetislav I.

Božetěch may have been educated there, and became its abbot – the fourth – in 1091. He was supposedly a favourite of the then King of Bohemia, Vratislav II.

Božetěch is one of the first Czech artists to be mentioned by name; according to a chronicle depicting the history of the Sázava Monastery, he knew how to paint, work with precious stones, carve wood and turn bone. It’s said that he also oversaw reconstruction of the monastery in 1096.

However, Božetěch would be expelled from the monastery in the same year, along with others, for practising the Slavic liturgy.

He had also courted controversy a few years earlier – in 1091 – when he decided to hold a ceremony to crown Vratislav II. This, however, was only allowed to be done by the Bishop of Prague, who, at this time, was Kosmas.

As a punishment, Kosmas forced Božetěch to create a life-size sculpture of the crucifixion of Jesus, and carry it to Rome. The sculpture has not been preserved.

While the original source material is a bit unclear, 19th-century Czech patriots celebrated Božetěch as the first great Czech artist. However, it’s been impossible to link him to any specific extant works.