Battle of Hořice explained

Conflict:Battle of Hořice
Partof:the Hussite Wars
Date:27 April 1423
Place:Hořice
Result:Decisive Hussite victory
Combatant1:Orebites
Combatant2:Bohemian nobility
Commander1:Jan Žižka
Diviš Bořek of Miletínek
Commander2:Čeněk von Wartenberg
Strength1:2,700 infantry
300 cavalry
120 War wagons[1]
Strength2:3,000 cavalry with some wagons and cannon
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:Heavy

The Battle of Hořice (German name: Horschitz) was fought on 27 April 1423, between the Orebites faction of the Hussites and Bohemian Catholics.[2] The Hussites were led by Jan Žižka (who was completely blind at the time of the battle),[3] while the Catholics were led by the repeatedly-converting Čeněk of Wartenberg. The battle took place on the Gothard plateau, near Hořice. Thanks to a strategic position, which allowed perfect use of Hussite war wagons and Žižka's tactical skills, the Hussites eventually won the battle.

Hussites took the high ground and built their wagon fort there. The Catholic cavalry could not ride up such a steep hill and was forced to dismount. The cannons owned by the nobles could not fire effectively uphill. These circumstances made it a battle between infantry behind fortifications and heavily armored infantry in the field. Žižka's men held the Wagenburg against repeated attacks by dismounted cavalry. Then, Žižka decided that the time was right to counterattack. With some cavalry, the Hussites charged downhill and swept catholic forces from the battlefield.

References

50.3647°N 15.6444°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: TOMAN, Hugo . Husitské válečnictví za doby Žižkovy a Prokopovy . Nákladem jubilejního fondu Král. České Společnosti Nauk . czech . Praha . 1898.
  2. Book: Thomas A. Fudge. Helen J. Nicholson. The Crusade Against Heretics in Bohemia, 1418-1437: Sources and Documents for the Hussite Crusades. 2002. Ashgate. 978-0-7546-0801-1. x.
  3. Book: The Slavonic Review. 1925. School of Slavonic Studies in the University of London, Kings̓ College. 283.