- Diviš Bořek of Miletínka
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Diviš Bořek ov Miletínka (German: Diwisch Borek von Miletin; Czech: Diviš Bořek z Miletínka; died: 1437) was a captain of the Hussites in Eastern and Central Bohemia.
He started his career as a poor, rural nobleman. After Jan Hus had been burned at the stake in Constance, he joined the Hussites. At first, he was a leader of the more radical Hussites and a comrade of Jan Žižka; later he became more moderate and even fought against the Taborites.
In 1420, he and the priest Ambrož Hradecký conquered Hradec Králové (German: Königgrätz). In 1421, he conquered and looted the Benedictine monastery at Opatovice in eastern Bohemia. He confiscated their lands and in 1423, he built a small castle on mount Kunětická Hora, which he named after the mountain: Kunětice Mountain Castle.
In June and July 1423 he and Strážnice ze Bedrich led a campaign to Moravia, in which they defeated the armies of the Bishop John XII "the Iron" of Olomouc and the Prince Přemek of Opava. After his return to Bohemia, the Hussite armies were attacked at Strážnice near Hradec Králové (German: Königgrätz by the armies of Jan Žižka, whom they had regarded as fellow Hussites. Jan Žižka defeated them and took the abundant prey they had conquered in Moravia.
In subsequent years, he led campaigns of conquest to eastern Bohemia and became a captain in Pardubice and Leitomischl. In 1427 he supported as a captain of Kolín the moderate Utraquists and hosted the delegation, who at this meeting decided the attack Prague. This plan was betrayed and the army was massacred. In return, Andreas Prokop led his army to Kolin and besieged it. Diviš could keep up the defense of the city for three months, until the poor population of the city, who sympathized with the radical Hussites, forced him to surrender. Diviš agreed with the besiegers on the surrender of the city in return for free passage.
In later years he was one of the leaders of the moderate Hussites and stood in the forefront of the combined armies of the Utraquists and the Catholics under the leadership of King Sigismund of Luxembourg in the Battle of Lipan on 30 May 1434, where he defeated the armies of the Sirotčí and the Taborites. As a reward for his loyal service, he was finally enfeoffed with the lands of Kunětická Hora and other areas. In 1436 he also bought Pardubice.
His participation in the Hussite wars brought him a large fortune. He died as one of the richest man in Eastern Bohemia. His inheritance was divided among his sons, who lost it just as quickly.
Source
- This page is a translation of its German equivalent.
Categories:- Bohemian people
- German nobility
- Bohemian nobility
- 1437 deaths
- History of Bohemia
- Hussite Wars
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