The Hussite Revolution and the Defenestrations

In the 14th and 15th centuries, Jan Hus (think Martin Luther, but earlier) led a massive church reform movement that would eventually bring him to his heresy conviction and death at the stake. Troubled times followed, that would include Catholic priests being thrown out of windows at the New Town Hall, the so-called defenestrations. In 1420 Jan Zizka, the one-eyed Hussite warrior successfully defended Prague against the anti-Hussite crusade, started by the Holy Roman Emperor named Sigismund. Although victorious, the split Hussite community started to argue against each other, the fanatic Taborites wanted total war on Catholics while the Utaquists, wished for transformation of the church. In 1434 the Utaquists in exchange for religious tolerance accepted Sigismund as ruler; the Taborites kept fighting until defeated. After the death of Sigismund, George of Podebrady became the one and only Hussite King in Bohemia, ruling from 1452-1471.