The Jest That Cost Zderad His Life

According to Hájek, in 899 Duke Bořivoj, prompted by some strange vision or divine command, founded a small chapel on the rise between Prague and Vyšehrad and had it consecrated in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul — on the spot now called Na Zderaze. And Zderaz, they say, because the Bohemian lord Zderad was buried here, a favourite of King Vratislav II, murdered in 1091 during the siege of Brno by the king's son Břetislav. For Břetislav had once been bathing on campaign in Germany and barely escaped when enemies fell upon him; and Zderad afterwards said mockingly before Brno that they should station Břetislav somewhere near water, since he was so fond of bathing. For that jest Břetislav had him treacherously killed. The body is said to have been carried to Bohemia and buried in this chapel, and from that time the place has been called Na Zderaze. Zderad's son Letoslav then built a church in place of the chapel, admonished by a vision.