St. Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow

St. Stanislaus was consecrated bishop of Cracow in 1072 during the reign of King Boleslas II the ‘Cruel’. He threatened to ex-communicate the King for his refusal to repent of his wicked behaviour and the King responded by accusing Stanislaus of stealing the estate of a deceased nobleman. After St. Stanislaus was acquitted on this charge in court the King issued edicts on three separate occasions to murder the bishop, but none of his soldiers dared to obey his orders. In the end the King himself murdered St. Stanislaus. Pope Gregory VII subsequently excommunicated King Boleslas.