- Battle of Vítkov Hill
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Vítkov Hill
partof=theHussite Wars
caption=A painting byAlphonse Mucha detailing the carnage after the battle
date=June 12-July 14, 1420
place=Vítkov Hill (outsidePrague ,Czech Republic )
result=Decisive Hussite victory
combatant1=Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Hungary [Attila and Balázs Weiszhár: Lexicon of Wars (Háborúk lexikona) Atheneaum Budapest, 2004. ISBN 9789639471252]
combatant2=Hussite s
commander1=Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
commander2=Jan Zizka
strength1=50,000-100,000 (100,000-200,000)
strength2=12,000
casualties1=300 knights
casualties2=UnknownThe Battle of Vítkov Hill was a part of the
Hussite Wars . The battle pitted the forces of EmperorSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor againstHussite forces under command ofJan Žižka (in English, John Zizka). Vítkov Hill was located on the edge of the city ofPrague and the battle occurred in a vineyard established by Sigismund's father, Charles IV.Preliminaries to the battle
On the 1st of March 1420,
Pope Martin V published apapal bull in which he ordered that Sigismund and all Eastern princes had to organize acrusade against the Hussite followers ofJohn Hus ,John Wycliffe and other heretics. On the 15th of March inWrocław , Emperor Sigismund ordered the execution ofJan Krása who was a Hussite and leader of theWrocław Uprising in 1418. On the 17th of March the papal legateFerdinand de Palacios published the bull in Wrocław. After that theUtraquist faction of Hussites understood that they would not reach agreement with him. They united with Taborite Hussites and decided to defend against the emperor.The crusaders assembled their army in
Świdnica . On the 4th of April 1420, Taborite forces destroyed Catholic forces inMladá Vožice . On the 7th of April Taborites under command ofNicholas of Hus captured Sedlice after which they capturedPísek , the castleRábí ,Strakonice , andPrachatice . At the end of April, the crusading army crossed the Bohemian border. At the beginning of May they capturedHradec Králové . On the 7th May,Čeněk of Wartenberg surroundedHradčany .Fights on Benešov and near Kutná Hora
The Crusader force of 400 infantry and knights under the command of
Peter of Sternberg attempted to defendBenešov against the Taborites. After the battle, the crusader forces were destroyed and the town was burned. NearKutná Hora the crusader forces under the command ofJanek z Chtěnic and Pippo Spano (Filippo Scolari) attacked the formations of the Taborites without success.On 22 May Taborite forces entered Prague. Jan Žižka destroyed the crusader's relief column which had to secure supplies which were sent to
Hradčany andVyšehrad . Meanwhile the crusading army capturedSlaný ,Louny andMělník .Defence of Prague
*The siege began on the 12th of June. The crusaders' forces, in the opinions of the chroniclers, consisted of 100-200 thousand soldiers. In the opinions of modern historians they probably had 50-100 thousand soldiers. One of the most important points in the fortifications of Prague was Vítkov Hill. The fortifications on this hill secured roads on the crusaders' supply lines. The fortifications themselves were made from trees but they were consolidated with a stone and clay wall and with
moat s. On the southern part of the hill there was a standing tower, the northern part was secured by a steepy cliff. Fortifications were said to be defended by 26 men and 3 women. In the opinion of J. Durdik, the fortifications were probably actually defended by about 60 soldiers.
*On the 13th of July, The Crusader's cavalry crossed the riverVltava (German name: "Moldau") and began their attack.
*On the 14th of July, Hussite relief troops surprise attacked Knights through the vineyards on the southern side of the hill on which the battle was fought. The violent attack forced the crusaders down the steep northern cliff. Panic spread among the crusaders, which made them route the field. During the retreat, many knights drowned in the Vltava river. Most of Žižka's forces were soldiers armed with flails and guns. After the battle, the Hussites had won. Crusaders lost about 300 knights. In honour of this battle, Vítkov Hill was renamed Žižkov after Jan Žižka. This battle was more on a political success than a military success. As a consequence of the Hussite victory on Vitkov, crusaders lost any hope in starving the city and their army disintegrated. Afterward the crusaders withdrew to Kutná Hora and began local warfare.A monument exists today on the hill and in 2003 local officials were attempting to replant the vineyard.
References
*Piotr Marczak "Wojny Husyckie" (English, "Hussites Wars") pages 61-67 published 2003 by "Egros" Warsaw
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