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Feodor (Friedrich) Ostrogski

Probably the most exotic Hussite was a member of the Russian/Lithuanian princely family Fedor of Ostrog or more often Fridrich Ostrogski. As the younger son of an Ostrogski prince, he probably could not count on a large inheritance, which is why he connected his career with the Hussite movement, and in the second half of the 1430s he can even be referred to as a condottiere.

Jan Žižka of Trocnov

This year we celebrate the 600th anniversary of the death of the Hussite warrior Jan Žižka of Trocnov, an important, if controversial, figure in Czech history who is perceived by some as a national hero, but for others as a criminal and murderer. What is the current state of knowledge of Žižka's life? And is it even our place to judge his actions today?

Saint Adalbert

In the spring of 997, the former Bishop of Prague, Adalbert (Vojtěch in Czech), is killed by the pagan Prussians, his Christian mission coming to a martyr's end. How he evaluated his life we do not know. As a relatively young man, he became the second bishop of Prague. Throughout his episcopate, however, he kept running into a contradiction between how he imagined Christian society to be and what Bohemian society actually was. He was unable to resolve his disillusionment with the lack of Christianization and evangelization of Bohemia except by going to Italian monasteries. The end of Adalbert's life was grim; in the autumn of 995 almost all his relatives were murdered at Libice, and he could not return to Prague. So he set out on a mission, perhaps with the thought of martyrdom in mind.

Jan Městecký of Opočno

Jan Městecký of Dobruška and Opočno, better known as Jan Městecký of Opočno (1380? - 1432 Hostinné) was an East Bohemian nobleman, the last of the family of the lords of Dobruška and Opočno and one of the personalities of the Hussite wars and one of the most important personalities of the so-called Opočno Party.

Oldřich II of Rosenberg

Oldřich of Rosenberg (Rožmberk in Czech) was an important Czech nobleman, one of the leaders of the Catholic lords in Bohemia. His efforts increased the power and wealth of the House of Rosenberg, as he was able to take advantage of the weakening of the royal power during the Hussite wars, but he did not hesitate to use dishonest methods to expand his possessions, such as forging royal documents. He also began to promote the fictitious origins of the House of Rosenberg and the kinship with the Roman Orsini

Hussites in Poland

At the beginning of the 15th century, many Poles, especially from Silesia - Silesia belonged to the union of the Czech Crown lands - studied or taught at the University of Prague and thus encountered the teachings of Czech reformers every day. Many Poles from Silesia, however, became followers of the teachings of Jan Hus - Silesia had the most partisans of Hussitism, and throughout the Hussite Revolution Silesia was predominantly anti-Hussite.

Diviš Bořek of Miletínek

A lower nobleman originally from the Hradec Králové region became one of the most important Hussite politicians. By seizing the possessions of the Opatovice and Sezemice monasteries, he acquired extensive landed property, which enabled him to relocate to Kunětická Hora Castle. During his career he was hetman (governor) in Hradec Králové, Chrudim, Litomyšl and Vysoké Mýto cities. At the end of his life, he legalized most of his property gains, and for about two years he was also the purgrave of Prague Castle. As a military leader he had mixed successes. However, he was victorious in the most important battle at Lipany (1434) against radical hussites.