View attachment 501583
View attachment 501584
The
Czech War, also known as
Hussite War was started as a result of reformist preaching of
Jan Hus. Czech priest would denounce corruption of the Catholic Church and Papacy, garnering support across Bohemia. This provoked supression from the Church. In 1414,
Council of Constance, convened to resolve disputes across Christendom including so called Western Schism, tried and imprisoned Hus. In protest, Bohemian and Moravian nobles issued strong worded protest, angering King of the Romans (not yet Emperor)
Sigismund. He sent threatening letters, declaring all Hussites heretics and his intent to shortly drown them all, which further angered Bohemians. As unrest in Bohemia increased, in 1419 priest
Jan Żelýwski led procession and attacked New Town Hall, throwing King Wenceslaus' representatives and town councilors out of the window (so called Defenestration of Prague). This, coupled with death of King Wenceslaus shortly after lead to even more unrest. After childless death of his brother, Sigismund would claim Bohemian throne and invade the country to bring it under his control. He was aided by
Pope Martin V who declared a crusade against Hussites. Hussite forces would band under
Jan Żýżka who would lead them to victory under
Witków Hill on July 1420. Żýżka however would not be able to consolidate power and civil war would ensue in Bohemia. In result of this and facing another invasion from the Emperor, in 1422 he would offer the Bohemian crown to
King Henry I of Poland, who accepted and was crowned King of Bohemia. Polish-Hussite forces would ultimately defeat internal opposition and sign peace with Emperor and the Pope. Catholic Church recognised Hussites who would be allowed to practise under variant rite, and Henry was recognised King of Bohemia (he would be proclaimed by Hussites "
Protector of Czech Brethren", title which although not by Henry himself would be used by future Polish kings).