Hussite Wars

The Hussite Wars were a series of fifteenth-century religious and political conflicts in Bohemia between Hussite reformers and forces seeking to restore Catholic rule.

Defenestration of Prague (1419): A 1419 uprising in Prague in which Hussites threw Catholic city officials from a town hall window. The event triggered open revolt after the death of Jan Hus.
Jan Hus: A Bohemian religious reformer whose criticism of church practices led to his execution in 1415. His death intensified opposition to church authority in Bohemia.
Prokop the Great: A leading Hussite commander who directed campaigns after Jan Žižka’s death. He led Hussite forces during their later victories and raids beyond Bohemia.
Compactata of Basel: A 1436 agreement recognizing limited Hussite religious practice in Bohemia under specified conditions. The agreement ended the wars by accommodating some Hussite demands.
Hussite crusades: Crusading campaigns authorized by the papacy against the Hussites in Bohemia. These campaigns show the Catholic side’s preferred framing of the conflict.
Jan Žižka: A Bohemian military commander who led Hussite forces during the early Hussite Wars. His leadership helped turn Hussite forces into a disciplined military movement.
Council of Constance: A church council held from 1414 to 1418 to address the Western Schism and other church crises. The council condemned and executed Jan Hus despite his safe-conduct.
Jan Želivský: A radical Hussite preacher who helped lead the Prague uprising of 1419. His preaching and political influence helped mobilize the first revolt.
Utraquism: A Hussite Christian tradition emphasizing communion in both bread and wine for laypeople. Communion in both kinds became the defining concession won by moderate Hussites.
Utraquists: Moderate Hussites who sought church reform, especially communion in both kinds, within an accepted ecclesiastical order. Their negotiations contrast with the Taborites’ more radical program.

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