“More Glory than Blood”: Murder and Martyrdom in the Hussite Crusades

The Hussite Crusades, spanning from 1420 to 1431, resulted in five major military campaigns by crusader forces against the Hussites in Bohemia, all ending in decisive defeats for the crusaders. These campaigns, marked by significant numerical and strategic disadvantages, culminated in a panicked retreat through the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) during the fifth crusade, effectively halting further crusades. Prokop Holý's shift from defensive to offensive warfare between 1428 and 1433 saw Hussite forces expand their operations into neighboring regions, including Germany, Austria, Moravia, Hungary, Slovakia, Great Poland, Prussia, Silesia, and Lusatia, demonstrating a strategic evolution that challenged the crusader narrative. The study highlights the intense period of intolerance, murder, and martyrdom, where both sides fought for religious beliefs, leaving thousands of casualties and reshaping the landscape of central Europe.

Fudge, T. A. (2023). “More Glory than Blood”: Murder and Martyrdom in the Hussite Crusades. Heresy and Hussites in Late Medieval Europe, VII. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003421047-7