Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/26

 that the women carried on against the men. It was related that after Libuse’s death, the women were not satisied with the government of the men, and so determined to cast off their authority. Vlasta, who had been one of the friends of Libuse, became their leader, and under her able generalship many brilliant victories were won. At first the men felt inclined to treat this uprising with scorn; but seeing how determined the women were, and what success crowned their deeds of valor, they became thoroughly roused, attacked the stronghold of Devin with great fury, and compelled the women to surrender. Thus the power of woman was forever broken in Bohemia, and from that time on she was compelled to occupy an inferior position.

After the coronation of Charlemagne in 800, he was more zealous than ever in his work of Christianizing the surrounding nations, Bohemia being included in that number. In 805 a vast German army invaded the country, offering Christianity or death to the terrified inhabitants. The Bohemians, taken by surprise, were not prepared for war; consequently, dared not meet the enemy in open battle. They therefore resorted to a guerrilla mode of warfare. Forming themselves into small bands, they fell upon the enemy from their hiding-places, killed all they could, and, before the enemy recovered from its surprise, they were gone. The army remained in Bohemia for forty days; but, with the exception of devastating the