Boleslaus III, Duke of Bohemia

Boleslaus III the Red
Duke of Bohemia
Fresco in the Znojmo Rotunda, 12th-century
Reign	999 - 1002 1003
Noble family	Přemyslid dynasty
Father	Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia
Mother	Adiva
Born	c. 965
Died	1037 Poland

Boleslaus III (c. 965 – 1037), called the Red (Czech: Boleslav III. Ryšavý; to denote "red hair") or the Blind, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, was Duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 and briefly again during the year 1003. He was the "worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne." During his chaotic reign, Bohemia became a pawn in the long German–Polish War between King Henry II and Duke Bolesław I the Brave.

The eldest son of Duke Boleslaus II "the Pious", probably with his first wife Adiva, he succeeded to the Bohemian throne upon the death of his father in 999. Boleslaus III turned out to be a weak ruler and soon entered into a fierce inheritance conflict with his younger brothers Jaromír and Oldřich. He had both expelled to the Bavarian court of Henry II in Regensburg, together with their mother Dowager Duchess Emma.

By 1002, a revolt organized by nobles of the rivalling Vršovci clan (along with Boleslaus's son-in-law) forced himself to flee to Germany, where he was received by Margrave Henry I of Austria. At first, Henry I ordered the arrest of his guest because of an old offence, but soon forgave him and promised support. Meanwhile, the Polish duke Bolesław I installed Boleslaus' kinsman Vladivoj on the Bohemian throne, however, he apparently was an alcoholic and died within a year. After the death of Vladivoj in 1003, the Bohemian nobles invited Jaromír and Oldřich back from exile. In turn, they each later assumed the throne at Prague.