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Podevin was a
:::::"Page and monarch, forth they went" (Line 21)
:::::"Mark my footsteps, good my page" (Line 29)
/ref> It is said that after killing the chief conspirator of the assassination, he fled to the forest seeking forgiveness. He was surrounded by Prince Boleslaus I's retainers and dragged to the gallows. The chroniclers tell us that his body was left hanging for several years. When he was finally buried, his grave spot became a stopping place for Christian pilgrims. He was respected for his piety and devotion to St. Wenceslaus. Today a chapel marks his ancient grave in the
Podevin was a page
Page most commonly refers to:
* Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book
Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to:
Roles
* Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation
* Page (servant), traditionally a young mal ...
of Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
in the 10th century. He is immortalized because of his appearance in the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus
"Good King Wenceslas" is a Christmas carol that tells a story of a Bohemian king who goes on a journey, braving harsh winter weather, to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the Second Day of Christmas). During t ...
":
:::::"Hither, page, and stand by me" (Line 9):::::"Page and monarch, forth they went" (Line 21)
:::::"Mark my footsteps, good my page" (Line 29)
Life
As a servant Podevin was both loyal and faithful. It is said that he taught the members of the household how to sing the psalms. He is recorded as having helped Wenceslaus with his charitable works. Together they comforted the sick, poor, and orphaned members of Wenceslaus's realm. Like his master, he was a devoted Christian who cared for those who were less fortunate. He escaped the murderers of Wenceslas, but later met his end after avenging the murder of Duke Wenceslaus.Gibbs, C.H., "Good King Wenceslaus", ''The Mitre'', Volume XXXVII, No.3, December 1929, p. 8, University of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Quebec/ref> It is said that after killing the chief conspirator of the assassination, he fled to the forest seeking forgiveness. He was surrounded by Prince Boleslaus I's retainers and dragged to the gallows. The chroniclers tell us that his body was left hanging for several years. When he was finally buried, his grave spot became a stopping place for Christian pilgrims. He was respected for his piety and devotion to St. Wenceslaus. Today a chapel marks his ancient grave in the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
.
Besides his brief lines in the carol, the only words of Podevin to have come down to us are these few spoken before he slew the murderer of St. Wenceslaus:
"God will care for my health and salvation, but you have lost all your health and salvation long ago and you will die in sin for ever."
References
* Rejzl, Jan. ''Good King Wenceslaus - The Real Story''. 1st Choice Publishing, Great Britain, 1995. 10th-century Bohemian people Bohemian domestic workers Burials in the Czech Republic {{Czech-bio-stub