The 15th century is marked by conflicts between the Protestants and the Roman
Catholic Church. At the beginning of the century, a
reform movement (reformace) was started and lead by priest John Huss (Jan Hus). Influenced by the writings of John Wycliffe, Huss spoke against the
corruption of the Catholic Church. His sermons in Prague's
Bethlehem Chapel were conducted in Czech to be understood
by ordinary people. Hus' ideology was not liked by
the Church and Hus was burned at the stake in 1415.
The killing of Hus started a massive protest movement
by his followers, the Hussites. In 1419, the First
Defenestration of Prague took place when the Hussites
threw seven counselors out of the windows of Prague's
New Town Hall. The religious Hussite
wars were then sweeping the country from 1420
to 1434 when the last battle, the Battle of Lipany,
took place. Many historical |
