Jan Hus the Heretic in Prague

Prague is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and known as the City of a Hundred Spires. Of course the ancient capital of Bohemia is not without its rebellious history and activists, most notably Jan Hus, priest, philosopher and Master at Charles University.

Statue of Jan Hus in Prague’s Old Town Square

Jan Hus was burned as an heretic of his Reformist ideas (he preached against the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church) in 1415 after the Pope indicted the whole city of Prague.  His statue dominates the Old Town Square as his mythic memory dominates Czech history.  His burning at the stake launched a Nationalist rebellion.  In 1420 Hussite forces defended Prague against a Crusade launched by Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor and from 1452 to 1471 George of Podebrady ruled as Bohemia’s only Hussite King.