Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

THE HIST OR Y OF PR A GUE  29

Satan Dressed Reformer, Jan Hus
as the Pope
Lurid images Born to poor parents in a small
satirizing the Bohemian town, Jan Hus became
corruption of the one of the most important
church were painted religious thinkers of his day.
on placards and carried His objections to the Catholic
through the streets. Church’s corrupt practices,
opulent style and wealth were
shared by many Czechs – nobles
and peasants alike. His reformist
The banner was preaching in Prague’s Bethlehem
decorated with the Chapel earned him a huge
Hussite chalice. following, noticed by the
Roman Papacy, and Hus was
excommunicated. In 1412,
Wenceslas IV, brother of the
Emperor Sigismund, asked him
to leave Prague. In October
1414, Hus decided to defend
his teaching at the Council of
Constance. Even though he had
A variety of farm the Emperor’s safe conduct, he
implements were was put in prison. The following
used as makeshift year he was declared a heretic
weapons by and burned at the stake.
the peasants.

The peasant
army marched
behind Jan
Žižka. Jan Hus at the Stake in 1415
After suffering death at the hands
Hussite Shield of the Church on 6 July 1415,
Wooden shields like this one that Jan Hus became a revered martyr
bears the arms of the city of Prague, of the Czech people.
were used to fill any gaps in the
waggon fortress’s tight formation.

1458 Coronation of George
of Poděbrady (see p21) 1485 King Vladislav Jagiello begins to
rebuild Royal Palace at Prague Castle
Vladislav Jagiello
1440 1460 1480 1500
1487 First book
printed in Prague
1502
Chalice on the outside of the 1485 Hussite Vladislav Hall built
Church of Our Lady before Týn uprising in Prague
denotes the Hussite cause Vladislav Hall

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