Background
She was born in Mělník as daughter of a Slavic prince Slavibor.
She was born in Mělník as daughter of a Slavic prince Slavibor.
Saint Ludmila was the grandmother of Saint Wenceslaus, who is widely referred to as Good King Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus" mother Drahomíra became jealous of Ludmila"s influence over Wenceslaus. She had two noblemen murder Ludmila at Tetín, and part of Ludmila"s story says that she was strangled with her veil.
Initially Saint Ludmila was buried at Saint Michael"s at Tetín.
Sometime before the year 1100 her remains were removed to the Saint George"s Basilica, Prague. Saint Ludmila is venerated as a patroness of Bohemia.
Her feast day is celebrated on 16 September. She is considered to be a patron saint of Bohemia, converts, Czechoslovakian Republic, duchesses, problems with in-laws, and widows.
She was canonized shortly after her death.
Antonín Dvořák composed his oratorio Svatá Ludmila (Saint Ludmila) between September 1885 and May 1886. The work was commissioned by the publisher Littleton for the Leeds Festival.