The Blind Bohemian General: Czech Hero Jan Zizka and the Hussite Wars

Jan Zizka is best remembered for his involvement in the Hussite Wars, during which he became the leader of the Taborites. A Bohemian general, who lived between the 14^th and 15^th centuries, Zizka has gone down in history as one of the finest military strategists of all time. Despite being at the head of a group of rebellious militant peasants, he channeled the religious zeal of the Taborites and managed to instill strict military discipline into the men under his command. This, along with Zizka’s revolutionary military tactics, enabled the Taborites to triumph over their enemies. The Taborites fought not only against other rival Hussites, but also against the forces of the Holy Roman Empire and its Catholic allies. Today, Zizka is regarded as a Czech national hero.

Detail of painting by Jan Matejko depicting Jan Zizka during the Battle of Grunwald. (Public domain)

Jan Zizka Before the Battle of Grunwald

There is little evidence remaining of the early life of Jan Zizka. Historians believe he was born around 1360, though some sources claim that he was born around 1376, in the small village of Trocnov in the Kingdom of Bohemia (today the Czech Republic). There are no records about his family background, though it is assumed that they were aristocrats. This may be plausible, as Zizka is said to have spent his early life at the court of Wenceslaus IV, the King of Bohemia.