John the Blind

Who is John the Blind?

John of Luxembourg, known as John the Blind, was Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 until his death in 1346, and is remembered as one of Luxembourg's great national heroes. Son of Henry VII, who became Holy Roman Emperor, John secured the Bohemian crown through marriage and spent much of his reign traveling across Europe as a soldier and diplomat, taking part in campaigns from Italy to Lithuania. Around 1336, while on crusade, he lost his sight to illness, yet continued to lead troops and conduct affairs of state for another decade despite total blindness. His most famous moment came at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 during the Hundred Years' War, where, though blind and in poor health, he had his knights tie his horse's bridle to theirs so he could ride into the thick of the fighting alongside the French king's army; he was killed in the battle. His courage so impressed the victorious English that Edward, the Black Prince, is said to have adopted John's ostrich-feather badge and motto "Ich dien" ("I serve") in his memory. John's tomb and legacy remain central to Luxembourg's national identity.

Sources: Wikipedia, "John of Bohemia" · Encyclopaedia Britannica, "John, king of Bohemia" · Military History Matters, "Royal Deaths: John the Blind"