VENCESLAO IV, EMPEROR. - King of Bohemia and Germany, born at Nüremberg on 26 Febr. 1361, died at Prague on 9 Aug. 1419.
Despite his young age, his father, Emperor Carlo IV, succeeded in securing the succession for him; the election took place on 10 June 1376 at Frankfurt and the coronation at Aachen on 21 July. Only the imperial consecration was lacking, and Carlo IV pressed for it, but without making any request for approval, to which the Holy See attached great importance and which was contrary to the Golden Bull. Gregorio XI wished to require solemn promises in favour of the Roman Church, and Carlo IV made them, but by a subterfuge, that is, without the consent of the Electoral College. Gregorio was not deceived by this procedure and delayed in sending a favourable reply, which his death then prevented him from formulating. Urbano VI, on 26 July 1377, granted V. his request, in the hope of winning him to his obedience; but he had bitterly to acknowledge that the King of the Romans pursued an equivocal policy and refused to intervene in his favour with arms. The prince-electors, dissatisfied with this conduct, deposed him on 20 Aug. 1400 and on the 21st replaced him with Ruperto, Count Palatine.