Battle of Sudoměř

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Sudomĕř
partof=the Hussite Wars
date=March 25, 1420
place=Southern Bohemia
result=Hussite victory
combatant1=Hussites
combatant2=Catholics
commander1=Jan Žižka, Břeněk from Švihov
commander2=Jindřich from Hradec, Peter von Konopischt from Sternberg
strength1=12 war wagons with 400 infantry
strength2=2,000 cavalry
casualties1=Heavy, at least 3 wagons destroyed
casualties2=Heavy

The Battle of Sudomĕř was fought on March 25, 1420, between Catholic and Hussite forces. The Hussites were led by Břeněk from Švihov (killed in the battle) and Jan Žižka, and they were victorious. This was the second famous battle of the Hussite Wars. The first battle, the Battle of Nekmer, was more of a Hussite retreat than a battle. The Royalist forces pursued the Hussites, and this is why this battle happened. At the beginning of battle, the Hussites were attacked under a white flag of truce. However, the Hussites had fortified the area. One flank was protected by the war wagons, and the others were protected by ponds Markovec, Škaredý (let-out pond) and Prostřední. One thousand Johannites from Strakonice led by Jindřich from Hradec (killed in the battle) attacked war wagons placed on a slim dam with huge casaulties, but no success. After that another thousand "iron lords" of the Royalist cavalry led by Peter von Konopischt from Sternberg (killed in the battle Vitkov 1420) rushed a weakly held side of the enemy formation, but mired in a let-out pond, so they dismounted, but mired again. After that, the Hussite light infantry with armoured flails could finish them easily. The battle ended with the advance of night and fog. Zizka was then able to escape. In the end, this was the first success out of many that the Hussites would have. The Hussite victory was amazing. Only 400 hussites (farmers and townsmen including women and children) have beaten around 2,000 cavalry (probably flaming number). However,the ingenious use of Wagenburg tactics and choice of position by Jan Zizka would win the day.

External links

* [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/matthaywood/main/Hussite_Battles_and_Significant_events.htm List of Hussite Battles]