John the Blind of Bohemia
King of Bohemia; Count of Luxembourg
"It would be quite against my honour if I were not to strike a blow in this battle."
Biography
John of Bohemia was the epitome of medieval chivalric romance — a warrior king who had fought across Europe, gone completely blind by 1340, and still refused to stop fighting. Ally of France and one of the most famous knights of his age, he rode into the Battle of Crécy on August 26, 1346, despite being totally unable to see. His reins were tied to those of two knights who would guide him into the melee. He was found dead the next morning, still tied to his companions, all slain together. His adopted crest of three ostrich feathers and motto 'Ich Dien' were taken by the Black Prince as a tribute to his bravery.
Did you know?
John the Blind fathered Charles IV, who became Holy Roman Emperor and one of the greatest rulers in Czech history. His son built much of medieval Prague. The legacy of a man who died blindly riding into battle at Crécy echoes through Prague's Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral.
Key Battles
Battle of Crécy
England victoryAugust 26, 1346 · 4,300 total casualties
Crécy shattered the myth of the armored knight's invincibility and demonstrated the dominance of the English longbow. It was one of the earliest battles in which disciplined ranged fire routed a numerically superior cavalry force, foreshadowing the end of the chivalric age of mounted warfare. The Black Prince won his spurs here at age sixteen.
Life Journey
Timeline
August 10, 1296
🌅 Birth
Born in Prague, Bohemia
1310
📍 Posting
Becomes King of Bohemia at age 14 through marriage to Elisabeth of Bohemia
August 26, 1346
✝️ Death
Dies at Battle of Crécy, blind and tied to his knights, still fighting