Libuše

Přemysl and Libuše, sculpture by Josef Václav Myslbek (1881), today in Vyšehrad

Libuše (Czech; in German Libussa or Libuscha) is a mythical ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and the Czech people as whole. According to legend, she founded Prague during the 8th century.

Libuše is said to have been the daughter of the equally mythical Czech ruler Krok, and the youngest sister among his other daughters, the healer Kazi and the magician Teta. She was chosen by her father as his successor (a judge). Although she proved herself as a wise chieftain, the male part of the tribe was displeased that their ruler was a woman. They asked Libuše to choose a male prince for the people, and she pointed to Přemysl from the village of Stadice. Two grandees found Přemysl and brought him to the princely palace. Přemysl the Ploughman thus became ruler; Libuše married him and became the mother of Nezamysl. This was the beginning of the Přemyslid dynasty in the Czech lands.

Libuše was the wisest of the three sisters and prophesied the foundation of Prague from her castle Libušín (according to later legends Vyšehrad).

The story of Libuše and Přemysl was recounted in detail by Cosmas of Prague in his Chronica Boëmorum (XII c.).

The mythical figure of Libuše gave material for several dramatic works, including a tragedy by Franz Grillparzer, an opera by Bedřich Smetana and a novel by Miloš Urban, Pole a palisáda.

Libuše is also the name of a Czech community in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

See also

• List of Czech rulers

External links

• Libuse, Louisiana Czech Museum

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