n 1276 Rudolf I, King of the Romans, placed Ottokar under the ban of the empire and besieged Vienna. This compelled Ottokar in November 1276 to sign a new treaty by which he gave up all claims to Austria and the neighbouring duchies, retaining for himself only Bohemia and Moravia. Ottokar's son Wenceslaus was also betrothed to Rudolph's daughter Judith. It was an uneasy peace. Wenceslaus's father died on 26 August 1278 in the Battle on the Marchfeld shortly before Wenceslaus' seventh birthday.
Before Wenceslaus became of age, the government was handled by Otto IV, Margrave of Brandenburg, who is said to have held Wenceslaus captive in several locations. He returned to Bohemia in 1283, at the age of twelve. His mother's second husband, Záviš of Falkenštejn, ruled instead of him for a few years.
On 24 January 1285, Wenceslaus married Judith of Habsburg, daughter of Rudolf I, to whom he had been betrothed since 1276. In 1290, Wenceslaus had Záviš beheaded for alleged treason and began ruling independently.
Wenceslaus' coronation had to be canceled because Judith was not present. She did eventually leave her family in Germany and came to Prague to be with her husband. Like her father, Judith hated Zavish, Lord of Falkenstejn, stepfather of her husband. He had acted as regent with the Dowager Queen, Kunigunda of Slavonia, whom he secretly married. Judith helped bring Zavish to trial and he was eventually executed in 1290, five years after the death of Queen Kunigunda.
Judith tried to reconcile her husband and Albert I of Germany, her brother.[1] She also brought German influences to the Prague court, like the introduction of knights at court. She made Prague a cultural centre[2]
They were crowned King and Queen of Bohemia in 1297. Judith was not in good health during the time of the coronation having just given birth to her tenth child. She died weeks later.
According to the family chronicles, Judith was described as beautiful, noble and virtuous.[3] She supported her husband's claim on Poland.[4]