The Victory of Excitement

One of the most interesting pages in history of Czech Republic is Hussite wars. For me it's curious that little army of Czech rebels could resist a huge alliance of Holy Roman Emperor and his vassals, especially they archived the impressive success at Vitkov Hill, near Prague.

Hussite wars has religious reason. Bohemia, the name of about of half modern territory of Czech Republic, was mostly Protestant country, as well as some of northern states in Germany. Some years before these events one of the most notable persons went to the European stage. His name was Jan Hus. He tried to reform Catholic church, which had many internal problems. To solve economic problems papacy solt indulgences, which could devalue buyer's sins, even if he had not done any sin yet. So everyone could buy indulgence in advance. Three Popes tried to rule the Western church simultaneously, while one of them was former pirate. To restore the order Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund gathered the Council of Constance. During the discusses the Emperor decided to invite to Hus to talk to him. But it was a trap. Hus was seized and burned at a stake.

This events excited the Czechs to decisive actions. They threw the judge and burgomaster, who were catholic, out of the window of the New Town Hall, which became known as Defenestration of Prague. It is purely Czech term, and they made Defenestration twice. The second happened in two centuries, triggering the Thirty Years' War in Europe. Surprisingly, this home guard managed to resist the forces, gathered by Sigismund. Actually the most of engagements happened near Prague. Empire attempted to beat Hussites in five crusaded, but only due to internal dissension among Hussites the final crusade was successful. But the Czechs took some advantages from treaty with emperor. In hundred years the Reformation stated in Europe, and the face of Christianity changed for ever.