Ambrož Hradecký

Ambrož Hradecký (Czech: Ambrož Hradecký or Ambrož z Hradce; died: 16 October 1439 in Kolín) was a Bohemian priest, preacher and political leader in the era of the Hussite Wars.

Life

Ambrož is first mentioned in 1419 as pastor of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in the East Bohemian town of Hradec Králové (German: Königgrätz). Queen Sofia and her burgrave had him driven out of town, because he supported the Hussite case. In the spring of 1420, Ambrož and Diviš Bořek of Miletínka mobilized a crowd on mount Oreb and lead the crowd to Prague, which was threatened by King Sigismund, scorching and burning the area they travelled through, and destroying the monastery of Münchengrätz, ostensibly in support of the rebels.

In June the Orebites, as they called themselves, conquered Hradec Králové and Ambrož was reinstated in his parish. Under his leadership, the city turned into a center of the Hussite movement. Even Jan Zizka, the leader of the Hussites, came to Ambrož for advice about his conflicts with the Tábor. After Žižka's death, his remains were transferred to Hradec Králové and buried in the parish church. In1433 Ambrož was appointed Archdeacon and Captain of Hradec Králové. As ambassador, he participated in the negotiations and participated in the negotiations in Basel that lead to the Compact of Prague.

After Sigismund had been elected King of Bohemia, Ambrož continued to oppose him. In 1436, Sigismund deposed Ambrož as captain, and sent in a new captain, who was more dovoted to himself, and with whose help he want to drive the insurgents out of Hradec Králové. Ambrož did not give in, and when the new captain offered to negitiate, after heavy losses, Ambrož rejected the offer. After continued fighting in 1437, Ambrož had to flee. He was wounded en was taken prisones. He was released after a brief captivity and went to Kolín, where he died two years later.

After the election of Sigismund against the Bohemian king, opposed Ambrož him further. Sigismund sat Ambrož then in 1436 as a captain and sent a new, more devoted to him, with whose help he wanted to drive out the insurgents. Ambrož subdued but even then, not when the new captain offered by major losses negotiations. In 1437 there were further clashes militant fleeing Ambrož had, was wounded and taken prisoner. Shortly after they released him, he went to Kolín, where he died two years later.

Ambrož was a representative of the more moderate Hussites, who called themselves orphans. He tolerated University Professors and he granted asylum after 1427, and protected the so-called Picards, whom he rescued from the stake. Adherence to the Catholic faith, however, he held to be a crime that should be punished by beheading.

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