Hussite Battles and Historic Journeys
Trick with the chariot wall at Sudoměra
On 25 March 1420, the Battle of Sudoměra occurred, which is famous for being the first significant victory of the Hussites against King Sigismund’s troops, utilizing the innovative wagon wall tactic. This battle is depicted in the film Jan Žižka (1955), directed by Otakar Vávra, and it took place between the ponds of Markovec and Škaredý. The Catholic “Iron Lords” attacked a group of radical Hussites who had left Pilsen to support the newly formed fortress on Mount Tabor. Although there were about four hundred Hussites present, including women, children, and the elderly, they faced off against around one thousand riot police. The attacking forces experienced embarrassment when they attempted to cross the dry bed of the pond Škaredý, only to end up stuck in the mud. Since 1925, a monument to Jan Žižka has been located on the very site of the battle.
If you would like to step back in time and witness a medieval battle reenactment, you can visit every March on the anniversary of the battle at the memorial for the reconstruction of the Battle of Sudoměř.
Against all at Vitkov
You likely recognize the next battle from textbooks as well as from Otakar Vávra’s film Against All Odds (1956). On 14 July 1420, the Battle of Vítkov took place, where the Hussites, commanded by Jan Žižka of Trocnov, once again outmatched a crusader army led by King Sigismund. This battle is where Žižka became renowned, paving the way for him to become one of the most influential leaders in Bohemia in the future. The heavy armor of the crusaders hindered their movements, making it difficult for their horses to ascend the hill. They might have won if Hussite reinforcements from Prague hadn’t arrived just in time. Sigismund learned a valuable lesson, realizing that he couldn’t take Prague by force, and he crowned himself King of Bohemia two weeks later. However, his struggle for power over the kingdom had just begun. Today, the site of this successful Hussite battle features the National Memorial at Vítkov, which includes the fourth largest bronze equestrian statue in the world, honoring Jan Žižka of Trocnov.Krejž bare under the castle Rabí
You may have heard of Žižek’s Conquest of Rabí Castle. A regional alliance of nobles in Western Bohemia, known as the Pilsen landfryd, formed against the Hussites. Rabí Castle became the center of their resistance, acting as a refuge for their adversaries. In April 1420, Jan Žižka and his army arrived at Rabí Castle. Historians mention he managed to capture it through a peaceable surrender. He successfully seized the castle again in June 1421, during which he suffered a severe injury when a splinter from a pear tree hit his eye, resulting in permanent blindness. Nevertheless, he continued to lead the Hussite forces into battle for another three years. The archer responsible for his injury is identified as Přibík Kocovský of Dlouhá Ves.
After taking the castle, the Hussites captured all the priests, monks, and novices, executing them promptly after. Then they turned their attention to the purgrave’s family. Just before his execution, the purgrave pleaded with Žižka to spare the lives of his children, saying “Krejž bare” (meaning “protect the chicks”). Žižka agreed to spare the kids, an unusual act for those times, which was later commemorated by an inscription on the castle gate. For the damages inflicted by the Hussite forces, the castle’s owner at that time, Jan of Rýzmberk, received compensation from King Sigismund, allowing for the castle to be reconstructed quickly. After his injury with the pear tree, Žižka remained out of battle for several months, but by September 1421, despite being completely blind, he embarked on another campaign toward Most.Victorious Catholics in Most and Kadani
Meanwhile, on August 5, 1421, the Battle of the Bridge occurred. The armed forces from Prague, led by Jan Želivský, faced off against the Catholics, who defended the town and the Hněvín Bridge Castle, commanded by Margrave Frederick IV. Svárlivý, an ally of King Sigismund. Unfortunately for the Hussites, this time they faced a significant setback, marking their first major defeat in battle. The Catholics resorted to such brutal tactics as binding the purgrave’s two sons to a battering ram; the Hussites then used this “living log” to conquer the castle. The sons pleaded with their father for their freedom and for him to surrender the castle as had been previously done in Bilina. However, he was unable to grant their request, so the Hussites stormed the fortress and burned it to the ground. As the Catholic troops from the Margrave of Meissen approached, the defenders fled the battlefield, leaving behind their weapons.
The Hussites also faced misfortune at Kadaň. On September 8, 1421, Louis III. commenced the siege of the city. Additional Catholic troops joined the previously stationed ones, including forces under the archbishops of Trier and Cologne, who arrived along the Ohře River through Loket. The commander of the Prague garrison, Ojíř of Očedělice, defended the tower with determination, but ultimately it was futile, as there were many German settlers already inside the city’s walls.Jan Žižka again at the head of the troops
In November 1421, Jan Žižka, who was gaining recognition at this time, prominently appears again during the Battle of Žlutice, which actually occurred on Mount Vladař. The Hussites took a defensive position on this high hill to fend off the larger army from the Pilsen Landfryd and the troops led by Henry of Plavno. They held out against attacks from this combined force for three days until the army had to withdraw to Žatec due to poor supply conditions and hunger. A model of the Battle of Žlutice can be seen at a local museum.
The Battle of Kutná Hora was fought from 21 to 22 December 1421 near Kutná Hora and the foot of Kaňk Hill, and on January 6, 1422, in the village of Nebovidy. The Second Crusade’s forces, commanded by King Sigismund, faced defeat at the hands of Hussite troops led by the now-blind governor Žižka. He broke through the Crusader encirclement, causing the surprised troops to retreat toward Německý (now Havlíčkův) Brod. This victory for the Hussites essentially marked the conclusion of the Second Crusade, as the Crusaders lost their momentum after their encounter at Nebovidy, leading to chaotic retreats thereafter.
Stones, fire and feces at Karlstejn Castle!
From May to November 1422, the Hussites made several unsuccessful attempts to besiege Karlstejn Castle, which was held by supporters of Sigismund of Luxembourg and served as their stronghold. During this time, they attempted a type of siege called “bombardment,” where they launched 9,032 large stones, approximately 1882 barrels of feces (collected from cesspools in Prague), and 22 barrels of fire at the fortress. Moreover, they even sent rotting meat and other refuse toward the castle. The defenders worked to safeguard the roofs and wooden floors using wicker and skins to absorb the impacts. They even poisoned the water source flowing from a nearby stream that the castle relied on. Despite these efforts, the castle remained unconquered. On 20 April 1423, one of the most meaningful Hussite victories occurred at Hořice on Mount Gothard, where a memorial cairn can be found today.Žižka died “from a tuber”
In the year 1424, Jan Žižka met his end while attempting to capture Přibyslav. He was still in charge of what was the largest army he had ever amassed, uniting forces from the Orebites, Taborites, and Praja, with plans to defeat Duke Albrecht’s army in Moravia, who was Sigismund of Luxembourg’s son-in-law. On his journey, he decided to pursue the capture of Ronov Castle, belonging to his opponents, the Lords of Ronov. Unfortunately, during this campaign, he fell ill with a condition referred to as “from the tuber.” Today, we understand that this likely refers to a severe form of necrosis known as a carbuncle, which requires surgical intervention and antibiotics, neither of which were available to him. Consequently, on 11 October, his body succumbed to total sepsis. His loyal supporters began to refer to themselves as the Orphans after his death.
The futile efforts of the Catholic lords during the Third Crusade
On 16 June 1426, the Battle of Ústí nad Labem occurred, marking one of the biggest successes for the Hussites, featuring Prokop Holý as the newly appointed commander-in-chief. The united Hussite forces successfully repelled an attack from mercenaries that included Saxons, Thuringians, Upper Lusatians, and Meissen fighters led by Bos of Vitzthum. The Saxon forces suffered approximately 4,000 casualties, while the Hussites experienced casualties in the hundreds. The Hussites’ victory assured them a wealth of spoils, including a large number of wagons, weapons, and tents. This event is noted as the bloodiest defeat in the entire Hussite Wars. The Catholic mercenaries’ unsuccessful attempt is labeled as the Third Crusade into Bohemia. Following their resounding victory, the Hussites were welcomed into Ústí nad Labem, where they drove the German forces back across the border.
A similar fate awaited the Hussites at the Battle of Tachov on 3 August 1427. The United Hussite Forces, under Prokop Holý, faced the troops of the Third Crusade led by the Archbishop of Trier, Ota of Ziegenheim, without much resistance. The Crusaders set up camp north of the town of Tachov, planning to await the Hussite advance. To delay their approach and buy time for their preparations, they sent 3,000 horsemen led by Henry of Plavno on August 2 to confront the Hussites. However, those troops returned the same evening without engaging. The next day, faced with growing fear and demoralization among their ranks, many Crusaders abandoned their positions, retreating toward the frontier.
When the Hussite army finally reached Tachov on August 4, they found the camp largely deserted and easily overcame the remaining rear troops.
The rapidly approaching Hussites surprised the Crusader troops before they could set up a defensive formation. The sound of the Hussite drums combined with the chant of “Who are God’s warriors,” echoed throughout the area, resulting in sheer panic among the Crusaders, forcing them to flee towards the Bavarian border. Their commanders were unable to stabilize the situation, ultimately finding themselves fleeing alongside their troops. Even Cardinal Cesarini ended up escaping incognito as a regular soldier, leaving behind his Cardinal’s hat, ceremonial attire, jewels, and even a papal bull. The Hussites seized 2,000 war chariots along with military gear and various treasures.
How Pilsen came to the camel
However, the Catholics experienced victories as well—starting from July 14, 1433 until May 9, 1434, they valiantly resisted the siege of Pilsen, a crucial Catholic stronghold in Bohemia. After the disappointing end of the Fourth Crusade, which retreated from Bohemia in August 1431, Church leaders decided that defeating the Czech heretics by armed conflict wasn’t possible, hence they pursued a diplomatic solution. Nevertheless, the radical Hussites wanted to stabilize their power before further talks with the Council, thus the various groups, including the Orphans, Pragueers, and Žatec-Lounians, decided to lay siege to Pilsen, the last major Catholic bastion in Bohemia. Despite their efforts to starve the city, it was the besiegers who faced supply issues. Internal disagreements arose in the Hussite ranks when the Prokop Holý was removed as commander. Less experienced leaders took command, complicating the siege further.
Just before Christmas in 1433, the people in Pilsen executed a significant raid, during which they managed to steal an impressive camel intended as a trophy; this camel had been gifted to the Orphans by the King of Poland. This camel later became the city emblem of Pilsen as a tribute to this notable feat. However, hunger and freezing temperatures created immense struggles for the troops outside Pilsen. Both Church leaders and Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg recognized the significance of Pilsen, prompting them to invest heavily in diplomatic talks with the Hussite nobility. Ultimately, they managed to win over the the Tábor governor, Přibík of Klenová, who agreed to smuggle food into Pilsen clandestinely. This led to a coalition forming between moderate Hussite nobility and Catholics, marking a significant turning point and signaling the end of radical Hussite resistance. Most common Czechs, worn down by the prolonged expenses of maintaining a large number of professional soldiers and the poverty resulting from this, started to turn away from the armed groups.
The end of the Hussite wars at Lipany and under Sion
The Last Hussite Battle highlighted the conclusion of the long and arduous Hussite wars in the Czech lands. Today, a monument can be found on the hill where the battle took place. This hill is referred to as Lipan Mound, known for its sandstone bricks, which feature the chalice as a symbol.
You can typically view a reconstruction of this event on the last Saturday in May. The battle is also portrayed in the largest Czech painting, Marold’s Panorama, located at the Holešovice Exhibition Centre.
