Product Description

In 1415, the judicial murder of the religious reformer Jan Hus sparked a major uprising in Bohemia. His death led within a few years to the 'Hussite' revolution against the monarchy, the German aristocracy and the Church establishment. For two decades the largely peasant Hussite armies successfully defied a series of international 'crusades'; they owed many of their victories to the charismatic general Jan Zizka, and his novel tactical methods based on the use of 'war wagons'. This remarkable episode in medieval warfare is remembered not only as the Czech national epic, but as an important forerunner to the wars of the Reformation the following century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56320 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-28
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

About the Author
Stephen Tumbull is best known in the field of samurai and Japanese military history, but has recently expanded his interests into China, Korea and Southeast Asia. He has also published several books on the subject of warfare in medieval and early modern Europe, where he has developed a strong interest in eastern European armies such as the Hussites and the army of Muscovy. Angus McBride is one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, and has contributed to more than 70 Osprey titles in the past three decades. Born in 1931 of Highland parents but orphaned as a child, he was educated at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School. He worked in advertising agencies from 1947, and after national service, emigrated to South Africa. He now lives and works in Cape Town.

Customer Reviews

ANARCHISTS OF THE 1400's ---DEMOCRATIC landmark !
The events in late mediaeval Bohemia, politically, were nothing short of astonishing.
You can only push people so far.
The citizens of Bohemia were in deep shock at the savage Vatican-cabal murder of their beloved national hero, HUS.
The backlash turned into a 15 year long anti-totalitarian campaign in the early 1400's. The Hussites organised "communes" + large armies and castles; 360 years before 1789, & 450 years before the Paris commune.
The anarchy of Wat Tyler's revolt and other mini-revolts in England never reached this magnitude. Had they read Orwell's "1984"; they surely would have identified with its rebel hero. But in 1429 there was no democracy. The word was unknown. However, DEMOCRACY is what broke out here. The desire for free thinking & expression, human rights and justice.
A cataclysmic & transforming episode that lit the blue touch paper for Martin Luther, for Henry VIII, for Cromwell & for 1789 in France. It was the forerunner of all revolts; even 1848 the year of revolts.
There's a tide in the affairs of men; and this certainly was a freakishly high tide.
The HUSSITE REVOLT was a phenomenon, a slow-burning fuse, and a visceral challenge to the late feudal overlords. Psychologically, Europe was never the same after the Hussite's. This is where the toothpaste got out of the tube; and it never went back in.
I attribute some of this to the early BOII tribes of BOHEMIA who were indomitable.
My KOLDAM (COLDEN) ancestral cousins lived near Nachod & Zampach & they were witnesses to much of this; possibly participants.

See also Vince Verney's WARRIOR OF GOD.

All good
A good source for this unusual army, up to the usual good standards one expects from Osprey. Excellent. Enough said.