100-ducat Vratislav II standard
100-ducat Vratislav II standard
The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint
100-ducat Vratislav II standard
Vratislav II (as king named Vratislav I) was the second son of duke Břetislav I and his wife Judith of Schweinfurt .He was also an ally of emperor Henry IV and supported him in conflicts with the Poles, Meissen and Rudolf of Rheinfelden, duke of Swabia; on several occasions he also invaded Austria. He added new territories to his family possessions – Lusatia, Bautzen and Görlitz regions.
For Vratislav’s faithful services emperor Henry IV granted him a royal title at the general assembly of imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire (so called Imperial Diet, in German Reichstag) held in Mainz in April 1085. The title was, however, not hereditary. Vratislav was relieved from regular obligatory payments and had to participate with other Czech rulers and their suites in coronation journeys of German rulers to Rome. In 1086, the first royal coronation ceremony was held at the Prague Castle.
On the obverse side of the medal, author of the design Luboš Charvát pictured Vratislav II. Below him he placed several denars – coins struck during his reign – and an inscription in Czech “Vratislav II – Stodukát“.
The motif of Vratislav’s coronation as the first Czech king is featured on the reverse side. Here, Vratislav is depicted sitting and obtaining royal sanctification from the bishop. The composition is complemented with a Roman column enhancing the atmosphere of the Roman period and text related to the coronation forming an arch together with the column.
Figures on the medal were inspired by mural paintings in the Rotunda of St. Catherine in Znojmo depicting the life of the Přemyslids.
Limited edition 150 pieces, numbered.