Vladislav I was a son of Vratislaus II of Bohemia by his second wife Svatava,[1] a daughter of Casimir I of Poland.

Bořivoj II returned from exile with the support of Prince Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland, but was defeated and imprisoned by Vladislav in 1110.

In spite of his victory, Vladislav I remained under Polish pressure and was forced to recognize a younger brother, Soběslav, as subordinate ruler of Moravia in Znojmo.

In 1110–11, Vladislav accompanied Emperor Henry V on his Italian expedition, and he encouraged continued German settlement into Bohemia's border regions.

In 1115, the Benedictine monastery of Kladruby was established,[4] with Vladislav endowing the abbey with 25 manors and the lordship of Zbraslav.