Battle of Vítkov Hill

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Battle of Vítkov Hill
Part of the Hussite Wars

A painting by Alphonse Mucha detailing the carnage after the battle
Date June 12-July 14, 1420
Location Vítkov Hill (outside Prague, Czech Republic)
Result Decisive Hussite victory
Combatants
Holy Roman Empire Hussites
Commanders
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor Jan Zizka
Strength
50,000-100,000 (100,000-200,000) 12,000
Casualties
300 knights Unknown
Hussite Wars
Nekmer - Sudomĕř – Vítkov – Vyšehrad – Nebovidy - Německý Brod – Hořice – Ústí nad Labem – Tachov – Lipany – Grotniki

The Battle of Vítkov Hill was a part of the Hussite Wars. The battle pitted the forces of Emperor Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor against Hussite forces under command of Jan Žižka (in English, John Zizka). Vítkov Hill was located on the edge of the city of Prague and the battle occurred in a vineyard established by Sigismund's father, Charles IV.

Contents

[edit] Preliminaries to the battle

On 1 March 1420, Pope Martin V published a papal bull in which he ordered that Sigismund and all Eastern princes had to organize a crusade against the Hussite followers of John Hus, John Wycliffe and other heretics. On 15 March in Wrocław, Emperor Sigismund ordered the execution of Jan Krása who was a Hussite and leader of the Wrocław Uprising in 1418. On 17 March the papal legate Ferdinand de Palacios published the bull in Wrocław. After that the Utraquist faction of Hussites understood that they would not reach agreement with him. They united with Taborite Hussites and decided to defend against the emperor.

The crusaders assembled their army in Świdnica. On 4 April 1420, Taborite forces destroyed Catholic forces in Mladá Vožice. On 7 April Taborites under command of Nicholas of Hus captured Sedlice after which they captured Písek, the castle Rábí, Strakonice, and Prachatice. At the end of April, the crusading army crossed the Bohemian border. At the beginning of May they captured Hradec Králové. On 7 May, Čeněk of Wartenberg surrounded Hradčany.

[edit] Fights on Benešov and near Kutná Hora

The Crusader force of 400 infantry and knights under the command of Piotr of Sternberg attempted to defend Benešov against the Taborites. After the battle, the crusader forces were destroyed and the town was burned. Near Kutná Hora the crusader forces under the command of Janek z Chtěnic and Pippo Spano (Filippo Scolari) attacked without success the formations of the Taborites.

On 22 May Taborite forces entered Prague. Jan Žižka destroyed the crusader's relief column which had to secure supplies which were sent to Hradčany and Vyšehrad. Meanwhile the crusading army captured Slaný, Louny and Mělník.

[edit] Defence of Prague

  • 12 June Beginning of the siege. The crusader's forces, in the opinions of the chroniclers, consisted of 100-200 thousand soldiers. In the opinions of modern historians they probably had 50-100 thousand soldiers. One of the most important points in the fortifications of Prague was Vítkov Hill. Fortifications on this hill secured roads on the crusader's supply lines. The fortifications themselves were made from trees but they were consolidated with a stone and clay wall and with moats. On the southern part of the hill was a standing tower, the northern part was secured by steep rock. Fortifications were said to be defended by 26 men and 3 women. In the opinion of J. Durdik, the fortifications were probably actually defended by about 60 soldiers.
  • 13 July The Crusader's cavalry crossed the river Vltava (German name: Moldau) and began their attack.
  • 14 July The Hussites relief under the command of Jan Žižka successfully attacked the crusader's forces. Most of Žižka's forces were soldiers armed with flails and guns. After a heavy battle, the Hussites won. Crusader losses were 300 knights. Because of this battle Vítkov Hill was renamed Žižkov after Jan Žižka. This battle was more a political than a military success. Afterward the crusaders withdrew to Kutná Hora and began local warfare.

A monument exists today on the hill and in 2003 local officials were attempting to replant the vineyard.

[edit] References

  • Piotr Marczak "Wojny Husyckie" (English, "Hussites Wars") pages 61-67 published 2003 by "Egros" Warsaw
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