Wenceslaus Explained

Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are de|[[Wenzel]], pl|[[Wacław]], Więcesław, Wieńczysław, es|[[Wenceslao]], pt|[[Venceslau]], ru|[[Vyacheslav (disambiguation)|Vyacheslav]], hr|Vjenceslav, lt|Venckus among others. It originated as a Latin spelling for Czech rulers. It is a Slavic dithematic name (of two lexemes), derived from the Slavic words veli/vyache/więce/više ("great(er), large(r)"), and slava ("glory, fame") – both very common in Slavic names – and roughly means "greater glory". Latinised name Wenceslaus corresponds to several West Slavic, Lechitic given names, such as Wieceslaw, Wiecejslav, Wieńczysław/Vienceslav, Vjenceslav, Węzel, Wacław and a few more.

People named Wenceslaus or spelling variations thereof include:

• Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935 or 929), saint and subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas"
• Wenceslaus II, Duke of Bohemia (died 1192)
• Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (c. 1205–1253), King of Bohemia
• Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (1271–1305), King of Bohemia and Poland
• Wenceslaus III of Bohemia (1289–1306), King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland
• Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (1361–1419), King of Bohemia, and German King
• Wenceslaus I of Legnica (c. 1318–1364)
• Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg (1337–1383), the first Duke
• Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378), born Wenceslaus
• Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677), Bohemian etcher
• Wenceslaus Hanka (1791–1861), Bohemian philologist
• Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819–1909), Faroese minister and linguist
• Venceslau Brás (1868–1966), 9th President of Brazil
• Vjenceslav Richter (1917–2002), Croatian architect
• Vjenceslav Novak (1859–1905), Croatian writer

See also

• Boleslaus, cognate
• Václav
• Venckus Lithuanian variant
• Ventsislav, Bulgarian variant
• Višeslav, South Slavic cognate
• Vyacheslav Russian and Ukrainian variant
• Wenceslao, Spanish variant
• Wenzel