Otakar Premysl II
the Golden King
the Iron
the Iron King: "His crusading spirit led Premysl II to the Baltic in 1255, where he gave welcome assistance to the Teutonic Order in its attempts to subdue Samland. The city of Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad), which was founded by Premysl II in the conquered part of Prussia, still recalls the memory of this valiant Czech, called the Iron King by his contemporaries." (Dvornik: 28)
the King of Gold and Iron: . "From the thirteenth century, the Czech kingdom was one of the most robust states in all of Europe, with a growing population and a vigorous economy. This, in turn, made the Czech nobility and rulers all the more rich and powerful, and enabled king Przemysl Otakar II to expand his territory rather extensively (if briefly). Otakar II was quite well-known in his time, and he even makes an appearance in Dante's Divine Comedy. Otakar II, also known as the "King of Gold and Iron" (because of his considerable wealth and his considerable military might) defeated the armies of the Hungarian king in 1256 and again in 1260. This military victory allowed him to annex the Alpine countries (today's Austria and beyond) - extending his territories all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Some people claim that this brief period - in which Bohemia controlled territory bordering on the sea - is the basis for Shakespeare's infamous 'Bohemian seacoast' from his play, 'The Tempest.'. . . . "
" . . . Dying as he had lived according to the knightly code, Premysl Otakar II, 'King of Gold and Iron,' became an inspiration to contemporary and future writers." (Agnew: 22)
Yvain de Galles:
Owain of the Red Hand (Gae. Owain Lawgoch): "Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri was the great-nephew of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. His grandfather, Llywelyn's youngest brother, had retired to England, where he died in 1315. In 1369 his grandson Owain went over to the French. He became one of the leading mercenary captains in French service being known as Yvain de Galles. In 1369 and again in 1372 he tried, with French support, to recover his inheritance but both expeditions were aborted. Another expedition was planned but nothing came of it; eventually, in 1378, Owain was assassinated by an English agent while besieging Mortagne-sur-Gironde. . . Owain was not forgotten in Wales; he was remembered by his nickname Owain Lawgoch (Owain of the Red Hand) and he joined the ranks of the Sleeping Heroes, asleep in a cave awaiting the call to rise and save his people. . . ." (The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 6, C.1300-c.1415: 340)
the Wallace of Wales: "Owen Glendower, whose noble resistance of the English arms amid the declining fortunes of his native country has obtained for him the appellation of the Wallace of Wales, was born, as is commonly supposed, in the year 1349...." (Cunninghamd, Vol. 1: 359)
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