Most people recognize the name King Wenceslas from the popular Christmas carol. But who was the good king, and why did someone choose to celebrate his generosity in a Christmas song? Discover the story behind the song and the man who inspired it.Good King Wenceslas: A Classic Christmas CarolGood King Wenceslas Words, from The Oxford Book of Christmas Carols, Music and Illustration by the Brothers Dalziel. Source: Wikimedia CommonsGood King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of StephenWhen the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruelWhen a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.No evening of carol singing would be complete without a joyful, spirited round of Good King Wenceslas. It has been a festive favorite since its publication almost 200 years ago. Out of an estimated 10,000 Christmas carols, in 2023, Classic FM ranked Good King Wenceslas number 21 on a list, between The Three Kings at number 20 and The Holly and the Ivy at number 22.Photograph of John Mason Neale, January 1st, 1910. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe tune of the song was written over 400 years ago as Tempus Aest Floridum, which translates as Eastertime Is Come. Yes, the tune of Good King Wenceslas was originally intended to accommodate words that hailed the return of spring and celebrated the annual remembrance of Christs resurrection. Its first appearance can be found in the 1582 collection of music entitled Piae Cantiones, which was compiled by Jacobus Finno, a Finnish clergyman and musician.In 1853, the lyrics to Good King Wenceslas were written specifically to fit the music. The iconic poem was composed by the English hymn writer John Mason Neale (1818-1866) with his editor Thomas Helmore (1811-1890). The finished product was published in a book called Carols For Christmas-tide, which was published by a company called Novello & Co. later that year.The Story of Good King WenceslasIllustration of Good King Wenceslas, 1904. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAs well as being a Christmas caroling classic, Good King Wenceslas is also a perfect song to sing on Boxing Day. This is because the story it tells is set on the 26th of December, otherwise known as Saint Stephens Day. This annual festival is mentioned in the opening line: Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen. Saint Stephens Day commemorates the death of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose story appears in the Book of Acts.The poem is set on a cold Boxing Day, with the land covered in snow. In the first verse, our protagonist, King Wenceslas, looks out from his home and sees a poor man gathering fuel to feed his fire.Moving onto the second verse, taking pity on those less fortunate, Good King Wenceslaus summoned his servant (hither page come stand by me) and requested to know more about the unknown man in the distance (where and what his dwelling?) Understanding that the man would very likely be cold and hungry, Good King Wenceslas decided to share the abundance of his Christmas feast with him (bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither, thou and I will see him dine, when we bear him thither). We may bear in mind that the 26th of December was only the second of the twelve days of Christmas and that the festivities at Wenceslass castle would only just have begun.Saint Stephen in Assisi, Italy. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe remaining verses tell the story of the duos journey through the bitter weather. Amid the venture, the page confessed that he did not have the strength to carry on (Sire the night is darker now and the wind blows stronger, fails my heart I know not how, I can go no longer). So that he might shield his page from the harsh weather, Good King Wenceslas generously advised his page to walk directly behind him (Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them boldly, thou shalt find the winters rage freeze thy blood less coldly).The carol ends with a charming piece of advice: Therefore Christian men be sure, wealth or rank possessing, ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.The Real King WenceslasEmma of Bohemia adoring Saint Wenceslaus, from Bolesaw II Przemylida, 1000s CE. Source: Wikimedia CommonsTo find the real King Wenceslas behind the song, we must travel back to 10th-century Bohemia. There we meet Wenceslas, who was not a king but the Duke of Bohemia. It was the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I who posthumously conferred the title of king on Wenceslaus.The young Wenceslaus was born around 907. His birth took place in the town of Stochov in the Czech Republic, which at the time formed part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. His father was Vratislaus I of the house of Premyslid, and his mother was known simply as Drahomira. He had one brother called Boleslav, who, in contrast to his brother, would later become known as Boleslav the Cruel.Despite common assumptions, although he was a dedicated Catholic himself, Wenceslaus did not come from a long line of Christians. His paternal grandfather had been converted to Christianity by Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, so the religion had only been in his family for two generations. Drahomira, on the other hand, was the daughter of a pagan tribal chief.Coat of arms, Medieval Bohemia. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn 921, Vratislaus, Duke of Bohemia, died unexpectedly. This left his eldest son, Wenceslas, to inherit not only the Dukedom but all the responsibility that came with it. At the time of his accession, Wenceslaus was just 13 years old. His paternal grandmother, Ludmila, a devoted Christian, acted as his regent,Jealous of the influence that she wielded over her son, and disapproving of their shared love of God, the pagan Drahomira arranged to have her ruling mother-in-law killed. Ludmila was accosted at Tetin Castle by assassins. Legend has it that Ludmila was strangled to death with her own veil. Drahomira assumed the role of regent immediately; her first action was to initiate harsh measures against Christians.Four years later, when Wenceslas turned 18, Wenceslas and his Christian nobles rebelled against Drahomira and her government. His uprising was successful, and he sent his mother into exile. From then on, he ruled independently, answering only to the Pope and to God.Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWenceslaus may not have been a true king, but he certainly acted like one. Praised for his Christian charity and virtues, he earned the epithet the Good. He also fostered the spread of Christianity in collaboration with the German church and took a vow of virginity. He ruled Bohemia from February 13th, 921, until his death in either 929 or 935.An Untimely End: The Assassination of WenceslausThe Burial of Saint Wenceslas, by the Master of Eggenburg, c. 14901500. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkSadly, Wenceslas was killed by his own younger brother, Boleslav. The story of these competing brothers began in September of 935 when a group of like-minded nobles allied themselves with the young and ambitious Boleslav. Together, these conspirators plotted to kill Wenceslas and make Boleslav their ruler. Boleslav was motivated not only by jealousy but also by a dislike of Wenceslauss Christian attitudes and behaviors. Boleslav was encouraged by his pagan mother, Drahomira, now in exile.With all the innocence of a beloved younger brother, Boleslav invited Wenceslas to a celebration. Supposedly, the event was being held in celebration of the Feast of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damien. During the festivities, at what we can only imagine was an opportune moment, Wenceslas was unexpectedly murdered, stabbed to death by three of his brothers companions, Tira, Cesta, and Hnevsa. As the Duke of Bohemia fell to the floor, Boleslav finished the job by running his elder brother through with a lance.At the age of either 22 or 28, Wenceslas had lost not only his dukedom but also his life. After his untimely demise, Good King Wenceslas was recognized as a martyr.Wenceslaus: Duke, King, Martyr, SaintThe Murder of Wenceslaus, from Liber Vaticus, 14th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAccording to legend, one of Boleslavs sons was born on the same day as Wenceslass murder and Boleslavs succession. Boleslav named his boy Strachkvas, which translates as dreadful feast. A further legend states that a loyal servant of Wenceslas, named Podevin, avenged his masters death by killing one of Boleslavs chief conspirators, for which he was executed. Podevin was the page referenced in the carol.The remains of Wenceslas now lie in St Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most important Church in Prague. The Catholic Encyclopaedia explains that Wenceslauss body, hacked to pieces, was buried at the place of murder, but three years later Boleslav, having repented of his deed, ordered its translation to the Church of St Vitus in Prague.King Wenceslas Chapel, Prague. Source: Wikimedia CommonsImmediately after his death, Wenceslas was considered both a martyr and a Saint. Within just a few decades, several biographies had been penned and had entered circulation. Consequently, devotion to Saint Wenceslas became extremely popular, particularly in Bohemia and England.One of the most notable admirers of Wenceslaus was the priest, chronicler, and historian known as Cosmas of Prague. He claimed that all the myths now surrounding the life of Wenceslas should be considered as genuine facts. Of Wenceslas, he wrote the following praise: No one doubts that, rising every night from his noble bed, with bare feet and only one chamberlain, he went around to Gods churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted by every difficulty, so much so that he was considered not a prince, but a father of all the wretched.A few centuries later, Pope Pius II (1405-1464) decreed that all legends regarding Wenceslaus should be regarded as true. In remembrance of the duke, and as an act of thanksgiving to God, Pius mimicked the actions of Wenceslas by walking ten miles barefoot in the snow to give alms to the poor.The Lasting Legacy of Good King WenceslasWenceslas Cathedral. Source: Kevin Andre via UnsplashThe Feast of Wenceslas of Bohemia is now celebrated annually on the 28th of September. It is so important in the Czech Republic that it is now regarded as a national holiday traditionally celebrated with roast goose and potato dumplings. Famously, Wenceslas is the only Czech Saint whose name appears worldwide on the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.Wenceslas Square is one of the main city squares and the undoubted center of business in Prague. It is customary to pay tribute to the life and works of Saint Wenceslas by laying a wreath on his statue on the 28th of September.