Jaromír, Duke of Bohemia

Bust of Jaromír on Jaromírova Street in Jaroměř.

Jaromír (c. 975 - 4 November 1035) was the second son of Boleslaus II the Pious and Emma of Mělník. In 1003, he rebelled against his elder brother Boleslaus III, who had him castrated, but was unable to secure the throne, which was subsequently taken by Bolesław the Brave, King of Poland. Jaromír and his brother Oldřich then sought military backing from the German King Henry II. At Merseburg, Jaromír promised to hold Bohemia as a vassal of Henry. This action definitively placed Bohemia within the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1004, Jaromír occupied Prague with a German army and made himself Duke. The state he regained was a small one, as Polish forces still held Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia. Jaromír's reign—like so many of the other early Czech rulers—was a struggle to regain lost lands. In 1012, Jaromír was dethroned by Oldřich (who had him blinded) and forced once again into exile. In a surprise campaign, Jaromír in turn managed to depose Oldřich (1033), but his second reign was short-lived. A year later Oldřich was restored by his son Bretislaus I. Jaromír was imprisoned at Lysá nad Labem and died (assassinated by one of the Vršovci) in 1035, a year after the death of his brother.

Ancestry

Family of Jaromír, Duke of Bohemia

16. Bořivoj I of Bohemia               8. Vratislaus I of Bohemia                       17. Ludmila of Bohemia               4. Boleslaus I of Bohemia                             9. Drahomíra of the Havolans                       2. Boleslaus II of Bohemia                                   5. Biagota (?)                             1. Jaromír, Duke of Bohemia                                         3. Emma of Mělník

Preceded by Boleslaus III	Duke of Bohemia 1003	Succeeded by Boleslaus III
Preceded by Boleslaus IV	Duke of Bohemia 1004–1012	Succeeded by Oldřich
Preceded by Oldřich	Duke of Bohemia 1033–1034	Succeeded by Oldřich