Libuše
Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIB : Libuše
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 who was a ploughman in Stadice village. Two grandees found Přemysl and took him to the princely palace. Přemysl the Plower became a ruler, and Libuše married him and became the mother of Nezamysl. This was a beginning of the Přemyslid dynasty in Czechia.
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 and an opera by Bedřich Smetana.
Libuse is also the name of a Czech community in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
See also
External links
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.