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: #656091 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-25
• Released on: 2004-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From the Publisher
Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author
Stephen Turnbull 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.

Customer Reviews

The seeds of the Great Relgious Wars of Europe
This is a good place to start for a overview of the Hussites. A group of Bohemians that were forced to become a great military force when they disagreed with going along with the corruption of the Church. That and some great illustrations by McBride and you have a great book to read.

The Glorious story of Jan Zizka and the hussite revolution
The Hussite Revolution(or Hussite Crusade)is little know outside the borders of the modern Czech Republic and Jan Hus the famous preacher of the 15th century who spoke out against the corruption of the Papal Catholicism (indulgences). He derided the comfortable life of establishment clergy and demanded a moral decency based on the teachings of Christ. With three Popes simultaneously occupying the chair of Peter, how could anyone respect the Catholic hierarchy? Hus make some reformation to the liturgy like singing in Czech and the communion in both kind,(wine and breath, when I was a Kid in Nicaragua it was rare to receive both, that was in 1983)everyone was raised in a surge of religious reformation combined with Czech national pride, at the end Jan Hus was put to trial for heresy and was burned to death at the stake. The death of this hero for many Bohemias sparked a hussite Movement which consisted of two distinct parts, the moderate Utraquists (utrae means equal, because of the communion in either form) and the radical Taborites (after the town of Tabor which they founded). Jan Zizka's support the Hus beliefs and was one of the Taborites General.

With all this details is hard to make a clear explanation in 48 pages but as other titles of Mr. Turnbull has made a nice clear summary of the Hussite Wars and a great contribution for all the fans of late medieval military history. The illustrations by Angus McBride are excellent both the Armies of the Hussite Wars(The Crusaders and the Hussites). The innovations of Jan Zizka would last well into the 16th Century, the use of the famous Hussite wagons, the important of the missilemen with handguns and artillery, although the Hussites were by no means the inventors of medievak artillery, their employment of firearms showed an understandings of how to use technology to its best effect. We follow the Hussite wars from the 1419 to the Wars of the Orphans(which is another part little known)Zizka although a National hero in the Czech Republic was until recently a little known General in the West, with the dead of Zizka a new leader Prokop the Great change the Hussite strategys of defensive to invading any neightbours territories,The Hussite cause after many years of resiting finally died on the battlefield of Lipany in 1434 were Hussite fought Hussite and the Hussite movement began to destroy each other, sadly there are no small maps like other editions dedicated to the wars of the Reformation(the German Peasants' War of 1524-MMA 384)but some good illustrations,photographs of surviving armour,weaponry and equipment,battle wagons or War Wagons reproduction and drawings.

This book is a must, too brief but still highly informative, Stephen Turnbull has specialized in Asian military history, Korea, Eastern Europe, the Baltic states and the Teutonic Knights.