Battle of Sudoměř

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Battle of Sudomĕř

Date	March 25, 1420
Location	Southern Bohemia
Result	Hussite victory

Belligerents

Hussites

Catholics

Commanders

Jan Žižka, Břeněk from Švihov

Jindřich from Hradec, Peter von Konopischt from Sternberg

Strength

12 war wagons with 400 infantry

2,000 cavalry

Casualties and losses

Heavy, at least 3 wagons destroyed

Heavy

Hussite Wars

Nekmíř - Sudoměř – Vítkov – Vyšehrad – Nebovidy - Německý Brod – Hořice – Ústí nad Labem – Tachov – Domažlice - Lipany – Grotniki

The Battle of Sudomĕř was fought on March 25, 1420, between Catholic and Hussite forces. The Hussites were led by Břeněk from Švihov (killed in the battle) and Jan Žižka, and they were victorious. This was the second famous battle of the Hussite Wars. The first battle, the Battle of Nekmer, was more of a Hussite retreat than a battle. The Royalist forces pursued the Hussites, and this is why this battle happened. At the beginning of battle, the Hussites were attacked under a white flag of truce. However, the Hussites had fortified the area. One flank was protected by the war wagons, and the others were protected by ponds Markovec, Škaredý (let-out pond) and Prostřední. One thousand Johannites from Strakonice led by Jindřich from Hradec (killed in the battle) attacked war wagons placed on a slim dam with huge casaulties, but no success. After that another thousand "iron lords" of the Royalist cavalry led by Peter von Konopischt from Sternberg (killed in the battle Vitkov 1420) rushed a weakly held side of the enemy formation, but mired in a let-out pond, so they dismounted, but mired again. After that, the Hussite light infantry with armoured flails could finish them easily. The battle ended with the advance of night and fog. Zizka was then able to escape. In the end, this was the first success out of many that the Hussites would have. The Hussite victory was amazing. Only 400 hussites (farmers and townsmen including women and children) have beaten around 2,000 cavalry (probably flaming number). However,the ingenious use of Wagenburg tactics and choice of position by Jan Zizka would win the day.