Heresy and the Question of Hussites in the Southern Netherlands (1411-1431)

Abstract

Arguably, the Latin Church at the end of the Middle Ages faced no greater internal challenge than the "damnable and perverse sect" of the Hussites. A major consideration at the Council of Constance was devoted to the case of the Czech priest Jan Hus. His martyrdom did nothing to bring recalcitrant dissenters in Bohemia into line with the official church. Instead, matters escalated until five crusades were preached and waged against these heretics on Bohemian soil. None succeeded. Czech warriors armed with Hussite doctrine marched beyond the borders of the Bohemian crown waging implacable war on behalf of the law of God against those presumed to be God's enemies. Little succeeded in deterring the fearsome progress of reformed religion. Twenty five years passed from the time Hus came to the attention of papal authorities until the militant cause of the Hussite movement could be curtailed. This was achieved only through a cunning divide-and-conquer policy. This resulted in a protracted internecine struggle culminating in the Battle of Lipany in May 1434. The nature of Hussite history in those years has been carefully studied by Czech scholars and there are several accessible studies.