Emma of Melnik

  General Notes:

Her origin is not certain. Gelasius Dobner thought she was the princess of Burgundy and this theory is respected even today. We do not know if she was the first or second wife of Boleslaus. Many Czech historians suppose that Emma was the mother of his younger sons Oldrich and Jaromír and that the mother of the eldest son, Boleslaus III of Bohemia, was Adiva, the first wife of Boleslaus II.

Emma chose an exile on Bavarian court in 1001, together with Oldrich and Jaromír - being afraid of Boleslaus III. Brothers sought military backing from the German King Henry II. This action definitively placed Bohemia within the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1004, Jaromir occupied Prague with a German army and made himself Duke. Emma came back to Bohemia, maybe living in Melník, where she died in 1005/1006.

The proof of existence of duchess Emma are denars with the text ENMA REGINA: Emma regina (Queen Emma, not duchess).

Emma married Duke Boleslaus of Bohemia II, son of Duke Boleslaus of Bohemia I and Biagota. (Duke Boleslaus of Bohemia II died on 7 Feb 999.)