|
|
 In the early fifteenth century, Master John hus, headmaster of the
University of Prague and follower of John Wycliffe, in his sermon held in the Bethlehem
Chapel, launched furious criticism against the corrupt practices flourishing in the Catholic
Church of the time. In 1415, he was summoned to the Councilk of Constance taking place in
that period, where he was to defend his teaching. He received a warrant of impunity from the
emporer Si8gismund. The prelates simply incarderated him and asked him to revoke his
criticism. He replied, "For me, the only authority is the Holy Scripture. Show me in which
respect my teaching goes against it. Only then I will revoke." Obviously they were unable to
do that. Instead, they burned him alive. He chose a horrible death rather than denying his
truth. He became a martyr and a symbol. The event provoked fury and tension in the Czech nation. In 1419, a crew gathered in front of the new Town Hall and demanded that political prisoners held there be released. The cousellors mocked the crowd from the windows. The crowd broke in, threw the counsellors oout of the windows and killed them. This unleashed the Hussite Wars. For fifteen years were victoriously fighting against almost the whole of Europe. Their peasant armies repeatedly defeatedheqavilly armed imperial knights. The Commander-inChief, Jan Ziska, invented the tank: a peasant wagon filled with stones. The revolution only ended in 1434, by a civil war, when the moderate Prague wing defeated the radical Taborites. It is reported that among the Hussites, surprisingly modern ideas were emerging: removal of aristocratic rule; introduction of elements of democracy, equality of citizens... Obviously, in the fifteenth century, it was too early for a revolution of this kind. How about Now? However, in a way our situation is more difficult. Contemporary pary oligarchies have learnt the lesson: Don't create martyrs! It is more efficient to to neutralize rebellioous doctrines by drowning them in silence. So, to oppose the gigantic party-political establishment, we, adherents of true democracy, can only speak loudly and rely on our tiny personal resurces. So much the greater will be our final victory! New Town Hall
Charles' Square Prague 
In 1419, from the windows of this building,
the councillors were thrown down and chopped to pieces by angry citizens. |