Battle of Nekmíř

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The Battle of Nekmíř near Pilsen took place in 1419 between the Hussites and the imperial forces. In this battle, wagon castles were used for the first time by the Hussites .

In November 1419, after the fighting between the radical Hussites and the mercenaries of Vinzenz von Wartenberg over the Lesser Town in Prague , 135 aristocrats and four royal cities were exiled to a provisional peace agreement that lasted until April 1420. At the same time, the lay judges of the New Town of Prague returned Vyšehrad Castle , which had been occupied by the Hussites in 1419, to the Bohemian regent Queen Sophie (wife of the Bohemian King Wenceslaus ) .

The disappointed radical Hussites then left Prague. Jan Žižka and his captains under the leadership of Brenek von Fels and Schwihau moved via Alttabor to Pilsen, which was administered by the priest Václav Koranda and which was meanwhile a center of the radical Hussites. This Hussite stronghold thus became the main target of the Catholic alliance under the leadership of the West Bohemian aristocracy, a reason for the Hussite leader Žižka to protect the city against attacks.

While the Hussites were staying in Pilsen, there were frequent fighting in the area. When Žižka returned with his army from such a battle in December 1419 (usually December 2nd is mentioned), imperial troops under the command of Bohuslav von Schwanberg with about 2000 cavalry lurked 17 kilometers northwest of Pilsen near Nekmíř and attacked him on.

Žižka only had around 400 men and some artillery. Seven of his wagon castles, equipped with guns, succeeded in causing heavy losses to the imperial troops. Among other things, the lord of the castle Hynek von Nekmíř was killed. During the subsequent march in the direction of Pilsen, the Hussites attacked three other occupying groups in the night before they withdrew to their stronghold of Pilsen.

After the news reached Queen Sophie, she had an army raised to attack Pilsen. The situation became more and more unbearable for the Hussites not only because of royal attacks but also because of inner-city struggles of the bourgeoisie. In addition, the royalists controlled the supply routes. After an agreement with the occupiers, Žižka and his 400 fighters left the city in free escort on March 23, 1420 and moved towards Tábor .

After experiencing this battle, Žižka began to increase the number of his guns and to develop tactics (see Battle of Sudoměř ).

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  • Ecce Homo - bitva u Sudoměře, broadcast by the Český rozhlas Radio, March 25, 2010, online at: www.rozhlas.cz
  • Sudoměř - 25. března 1420, in: Britské listy March 25, 2008, online at: blisty.cz