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 German: Wenzel, Polish: Wacław, Więcesław, Wieńczysław, Spanish: Wenceslao, Portuguese: Venceslau, Russian: Vyacheslav, Croatian: Vjenceslav, Lithuanian: 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
External links
Works related to Wenceslaus at Wikisource
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