Incursions
Index
Bohemia
976. Henry, duke of the Bavarians, fled to Bohemia after being deprived of both his office and the communion of the church. While he was residing there, with Duke Boleslav, the emperor attacked with a strong army, but gained nothing at all against these two. Moreover, through the treachery of one of Boleslav's warriors, he lost a great troop of Bavarians who were coming to his aid and had just set up camp next to the burg Pilsen. In the evening, the Bavarians were washing themselves without having set a guard for security. Suddenly, the mailed enemy arrived and cut them down as they ran naked to their tents and through the meadow. The enemy returned with all of their booty, happy and unharmed. Hearing of the loss of so many men, and knowing that no other route of return was accessible to him, the emperor went directly to his burg at Cham.1
1003. King Henry subjugated Italy, Bohemia and Duke Boleslaw as well as all the people of the Slavs.2
[1004. King Henry invades Bohemia to oust Boleslaw Chrobry from power there, taking Zatec by force and reinstating the Premyslid Jaromir as ruler in Prague. Afterward, Jaromir assists Henry in attacking the Milzeni and beseiging Bautzen--ultimately surrendered by Boleslaw.]3
1039. King Henry undertook and expedition to Bohemia, but when Bretislav, the duke of that people, had sent him his son as a hostage and had promised--although it was a feigned promise--that he himself would come and perform what was commanded of him, he at once returned.
1040. In autumn the king declared a war in the Bohemian realm, where he returned having lost many of his force without the outcome of success.
1041. King Henry, having entered Bohemia a second time, accepted the surrender of its duke, named Bretislav, and made his land tributary to him.4