Saint Ludmila of Bohemia, grandmother of Saint Wenceslaus, is martyred

Saint Ludmila of Bohemia was born around 860 and married Duke Bořivoj I, the first Christian ruler of Bohemia. Together, they helped spread Christianity across their land. After her husband’s death, Ludmila raised her grandson Wenceslaus, who would later become Saint Wenceslaus, the patron saint of the Czech people. Her Christian guidance deeply influenced him. However, political struggles in Bohemia led to her downfall. On September 15, 921, Ludmila was strangled to death at Tetín Castle by assassins sent by her daughter-in-law Drahomíra, who opposed her influence over young Wenceslaus. Ludmila’s death turned her into one of the earliest Christian martyrs in Central Europe. Soon after, she was venerated as a saint, and her cult grew across the region. She became a symbol of Christian devotion and maternal guidance, shaping the religious identity of Bohemia. Her story shows the risks faced by women in power and faith during medieval times, and she remains one of the most important female saints in Czech history.