Hussite Wars

The Hussite Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1420 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were arguably the first European war in which hand-held gunpowder weapons such as muskets made a decisive contribution. Light cannons were also used, especially by the Hussites who used them masterfully in defensive positions.

Civil War

Bohemia was now again for a time free from foreign intervention, but internal discord again broke out caused partly by theological strife, partly by the ambition of agitators. Jan Zelivsky was on 9 March 1422 arrested by the town council of Prague and decapitated. There were troubles at Tabor also, where a more advanced party opposed Zizka’s authority. Bohemia obtained a temporary respite when, in 1422, Prince Sigismund Korybutovic of Poland (nephew of king Ladislaus II Jagiello of Poland) became for a short time ruler of the country. He was a governor sent by duke Alexander of Lithuania (brother of Polish king), who accepted hussite proposal to be their new king (Poland and Lithuania were in a conflict with Sigismund). His authority was recognized by the Utraquist nobles, the citizens of Prague, and the more moderate Taborites. Korybutovic, however, remained a short time in Bohemia, but in 1423 he was called to come back to Lithuania, after king Jagiello had made a treaty with Sigismund Luxembourg. After his departure civil war broke out, the Taborites opposing in arms the more moderate Utraquists, who at this period are also called by the chroniclers the "Praguers", as Prague was their principal stronghold. On 27 April 1423, Zizka now again leading, the Taborites defeated at the battle of Horic the Utraquist army under Cenek of Wartemberg; shortly afterwards an armistice was concluded at Konopilt.

Related Topics:
9 March - 1422 - Sigismund Korybutovic - Civil war - 27 April - 1423 - Battle of Horic - Konopilt

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