Emma of Melnik

Emma (Hemma) (b. before 950, d. 1005/1006) was wife of Boleslaus II of Bohemia and bohemian Duchess.

Her origin is not cleared up. Gelasius Dobner thought she was the princess of Burgundy and this theory is respected even today. We do not know if she was the first or second wife of Boleslaus. Many czech historians suppose that Emma was mother of his younger sons Oldřich and Jaromír and that the mother of the eldest son, Boleslaus III of Bohemia, was the first wife of Boleslaus II, Adiva.

Emma chose an exile on bavarian court in 1001, together with Oldřich and Jaromír - being afraid of Boleslaus III. Brothers sought military backing from the German King Henry II. This action definitively placed Bohemia within the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1004, Jaromir occupied Prague with a German army and made himself Duke. Emma came back to Bohemia, maybe living in Mělník, where she died in 1005/1006.

The proof of existence of duchess Emma are denars with the text ENMA REGINA: Emma regina (Queen Emma, not duchess).