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George of Bohemia: King of Heretics
Anarchy followed the Hussite Revolution in Bohemia until George of Podebrady was elected king. Professor Heymann shows how the Roman Catholic Church failed to dislodge George from his royal authority, and how the Bohemian king prevented the destruction of the Czech reformation, enabling it to influence, to an extent not fully appreciated, the development of European reform ideas up to the age of the German and Swiss Reformation.Originally published in 1965.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
692 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 1965
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December 28, 2021
George of Bohemia by Frederick G Heymann is a study in the kingship of George of Poděbrady. He lived from 23 April 1420 – 22 March 1471 but this book almost entirely focuses on his period as regent and then King from 1451. Bohemia, in the modern day Czech Republic, had near the start of the 15th century undergone the Hussite revolution. The Catholic Church considered them heretics and so the Hussites had fought off crusades while in isolation from much of the rest of Europe. By the time of this book the situation had stabilised but the Pope and much of the senior clergy still dream of ending the heresy. George himself is a Utraquist, a moderate Hussite. As a result, much of this book is devoted to his attempts to avoid his realm being isolated, or having more crusades against them, and ideally having the Utraquists invited back into the fold of the Catholic Church.
This is a detailed study of the politics of Bohemia and wider Germany and Central Europe during the mid 15th Century. The international relations between the constituent parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary and the Papacy are explored in depth. For someone interested in medieval diplomacy, politics, and religion there is much of interest here. There is even a proposal from George for a “League of Princes” which is a proto-international organisation with the intent of keeping the peace in Europe to be able to focus on fighting the Turks.
The League of Princes brings be onto what I did not like in this book. My first niggle is the regular references to events that have not yet happened. This happens both by referring to things that will happen much later which is often illustrative of a point. And more annoyingly by discussing what George does about something before telling us what that something is. This is most evident with the League of Princes where we have 7 pages on how George goes about presenting his proposal before we are told what the proposal itself is, which had me flicking back through thinking I must have missed it!
Secondly Heymann paints his subject in the best possible light. I wonder whether George was quite the paragon he appears; he was regent and present when young King Ladislav dies, apparently of the black death but not while there was an outbreak in Bohemia. Heymann dismisses rumours of poison but without providing evidence. It is however notable that George is the person with most to gain by getting Ladislav out the way as he rapidly becomes King. This slant is however most evident in the run up to the war which occupies the final part of the book. George is portrayed as completely the innocent party when Hungarian King Matthias declares war – yet George has diplomatically slighted him multiple times since Matthias became king. George had also been supporting rebels in Hungary, which is bound to annoy another king!
It should also be noted that despite the title and focus on George of Bohemia this is not really a biography. We hear very little of his childhood beyond where it related to the defeat of the Hussites in a battle in which he fought in his early teens. We also learn almost nothing of his two wives; his wedding to his second Johanna, surely a significant event for George, receives a meagre 1 line! And yet this is a woman who in George’s absence leads an army to prevent an incursion by Matthias. I would have liked to hear more about her and their relationship. Similarly, his children come into it only as regards to politics. This to me left the book lacking much of the colour of life.
This is a detailed study of the politics of Bohemia and wider Germany and Central Europe during the mid 15th Century. The international relations between the constituent parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary and the Papacy are explored in depth. For someone interested in medieval diplomacy, politics, and religion there is much of interest here. There is even a proposal from George for a “League of Princes” which is a proto-international organisation with the intent of keeping the peace in Europe to be able to focus on fighting the Turks.
The League of Princes brings be onto what I did not like in this book. My first niggle is the regular references to events that have not yet happened. This happens both by referring to things that will happen much later which is often illustrative of a point. And more annoyingly by discussing what George does about something before telling us what that something is. This is most evident with the League of Princes where we have 7 pages on how George goes about presenting his proposal before we are told what the proposal itself is, which had me flicking back through thinking I must have missed it!
Secondly Heymann paints his subject in the best possible light. I wonder whether George was quite the paragon he appears; he was regent and present when young King Ladislav dies, apparently of the black death but not while there was an outbreak in Bohemia. Heymann dismisses rumours of poison but without providing evidence. It is however notable that George is the person with most to gain by getting Ladislav out the way as he rapidly becomes King. This slant is however most evident in the run up to the war which occupies the final part of the book. George is portrayed as completely the innocent party when Hungarian King Matthias declares war – yet George has diplomatically slighted him multiple times since Matthias became king. George had also been supporting rebels in Hungary, which is bound to annoy another king!
It should also be noted that despite the title and focus on George of Bohemia this is not really a biography. We hear very little of his childhood beyond where it related to the defeat of the Hussites in a battle in which he fought in his early teens. We also learn almost nothing of his two wives; his wedding to his second Johanna, surely a significant event for George, receives a meagre 1 line! And yet this is a woman who in George’s absence leads an army to prevent an incursion by Matthias. I would have liked to hear more about her and their relationship. Similarly, his children come into it only as regards to politics. This to me left the book lacking much of the colour of life.
Displaying 1 of 1 review