Kdož jsou Boží bojovníci
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"Ye Who Are Warriors of God", the English translation of Kdož jsou Boží bojovníci was a Hussite war song that was sung with such intensity throughout the Hussite Wars, that it brought fear throughout the enemy army. It was a weapon in itself. The hymn would be led by a Hussite priest, whom would be carrying a hatchet. During the 1433 war between the Polish and the Teutonic Knights of Prussia, the Hussites signed an alliance against the Germans in July of 1433. During the war, they advanced all of the way way to the Baltic sea at the town of Danzig. The Prussian 19th century historian, Heinrich von Treitschke, made a reference to the Hussite taking of land near the Baltic Sea and to Kdož jsou Boží bojovníci in this writing: "greeted the sea with a wild Czech song about God's warriors and filled their water bottles with brine in token that the Baltic once more obeyed the Slavs." This is an English translation of the song, Kdož jsou Boží bojovníci, which was sung in Czech. This song was combined with a Catholic carol sung during the time of King Wenceslaus IV by Antonín Dvořák in his work Husitská.
[edit] Lyrics
- Ye who are God's warriors and of his law,
- pray to God for help and have faith in Him;
- that finally with him you will be victorious
[edit] References
- "The Hussite Wars (1419-36)", Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing (ISBN 1841766658)
- The Hussite Chorale