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Warrior of God: Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution
Paperback edition of the first modern biography of one of the greatest military strategists of all time.
Jan Zizka (1370–1424) was a formidable figure whose life and military career was set amidst the whirlwind of monumental revolutions – military, religious, political and social – that engulfed medieval Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. The leader of Bohemia's Hussite Revolution – the first of the religious wars during the Protestant Reformation – he was a forward-thinking military genius whose record is virtually unmatched.
He fielded a peasant militia, initially untrained and unequipped, and faced down the Holy Roman Empire’s huge professional army of armored knights known as ‘The Men of Iron’. Among his numerous innovations was the armored wagon fitted with small cannons and muskets, presaging the modern tank. All this, despite the fact that for much of his later career he went completely blind.
Yet remarkably, beyond central Europe, very little is known about him. In this original and engrossing study, historian Victor Verney combines an authoritative analysis with colorful anecdotes to reveal the incredible exploits of this forgotten military genius and the fascinating cast of characters who surrounded him.
Jan Zizka (1370–1424) was a formidable figure whose life and military career was set amidst the whirlwind of monumental revolutions – military, religious, political and social – that engulfed medieval Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. The leader of Bohemia's Hussite Revolution – the first of the religious wars during the Protestant Reformation – he was a forward-thinking military genius whose record is virtually unmatched.
He fielded a peasant militia, initially untrained and unequipped, and faced down the Holy Roman Empire’s huge professional army of armored knights known as ‘The Men of Iron’. Among his numerous innovations was the armored wagon fitted with small cannons and muskets, presaging the modern tank. All this, despite the fact that for much of his later career he went completely blind.
Yet remarkably, beyond central Europe, very little is known about him. In this original and engrossing study, historian Victor Verney combines an authoritative analysis with colorful anecdotes to reveal the incredible exploits of this forgotten military genius and the fascinating cast of characters who surrounded him.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 3, 2012
There is a painting by Jan Matejko, "The Battle of Grunwald", that has always fascinated me. The painting celebrates the decisive battle in which Wladyslaw Jagiello’s 39,000 Polish-Lithuanian knights and their allies crushed the Teutonic Order, a force of 27,000, one of the strongest military organisations in Europe. The Catholic Polish knights were a minority in an army made up of Lithuanian pagans, Orthodox Christians, Lithuanian Muslim Tartars and “heretical” Bohemian Hussites. I first saw the painting as a Polish postage stamp (in its time it was the largest in the world). It is a chaotic mass. Men are engaged in brutal combat; spears, swords, axes, horses and banners. Within this chaos three figures seem to really stand out: the flowing white of the Grand Master as he leans back, about to fall under the forceful thrust of a spear and the push of a warrior about to take a swing with his axe; the central crowned figure, in velvety red, arms upraised, face aglow as though he has been struck with a divine vision; and, completing the triangle, on the right, a mailed warrior, arms reaching back over his shoulder as he is about to deal a mighty blow with his sword. This is Ziska.
So it was with genuine interest that I picked up this book (it had Matejko's Ziska on the cover!). Initially I was disappointed as a slightly confusing introduction seemed to spend as much time on the intrigues of Hungary as it did in the Czech lands. It is only later that I began to appreciate what the author was trying to do; I began to feel that this tale is like a jigsaw puzzle in which my lazy brain is being pushed to start making the connections as the picture comes together. These were interesting, chaotic times, and interesting times create opportunities for individuals to overcome disadvantages in life. The chaos of the late 1300s and early 1400s was a crucible within which much of the future was forged.
There is a good explanation of the religious situation in Bohemia, of how the Papal crisis of the 1300s led to the questioning of certain religious issues (especially that of Papal Infallibility and even of the right of the Papacy to leadership). There are also strong connections between the translation of the Bible into the vernacular with the growth of nationalist feelings. The Anglo-Bohemian links of the late 1300s led to the spread of the teachings of Wycliffe in Bohemia and gradually the unsteadiness of the religious and political situation led to disobedience to the Holy Roman Emperor, the Hussite Revolution and war.
We dive straight into the Hussite Revolution, and the first Defenestration of Prague, without any real explanation of what was so attractive about the doctrines of Hus; there are suggestions that somehow everything is linked to the chaos of the Papal crisis of the 1300s, to the growth of anti-German feelings, to the rise of Pan-Slavism and even in the birth pangs of Czech nationalism - why? What encouraged these feelings? Was it simply a desire for order within chaos or was it, as hinted at, much more complex? And against this background we have Ziska, one-eyed, rising from relative obscurity and poverty to becoming the king's man, the Queen's chamberlain and, later, the inspired leader of the Hussite army. It was Ziska who realised the importance of discipline, and of the use of weaponry and tactics developed for a largely peasant force expected to meet disorganised heavy cavalry in battle. Ziska created the first really modern army.
The Imperial response to the revolt is dealt with well; we begin to see what a devious politician the regent, Sigismund of Luxembourg, is and what the Czechs had to put up with. Sigismund's indecisiveness and the arrogance of his German forces in thinking it would all be over soon resulted in their eventual, ignominious retreat, not just once but on every occasion they came in their crusades. Ziska, on the other hand, showed himself to be decisive and his prestige rose as a result.
What becomes really obvious is the antagonism felt by the Czechs for the Germans and the desire for autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire. Czech nationalism linked with the desire for religious freedoms, in other words, acts as a driving force in this unfolding story.
Once the immediate threat was dissipated, however, then problems arose between the more moderate (Calixtine or Utraquist) and more radical (Taborite) arms of Hussitism. It is never made clear why Ziska allied himself with the radicals because there are times when he became concerned about some of their beliefs and behaviour, but there can be no doubt that he turned the zealous Taborites into a might military force.
This is a real tale of intrigue and violence. It is interesting how all revolutions seem to run out of control as different factions arise and as extremists act, dissatisfied with the pace of things. Ziska appears to be in the background throughout yet he is the real driving force; an able leader, a pious man. At times his actions appear severe and reminiscent of the extremism of religious zealots yet most of the time he seems to reign in extremism. These were violent times with brutal taking of lives; burning prisoners in barns and churches, throwing them alive down mine shafts, mass slaughter.
Amidst all the machinations of Sigismund and his German forces, coupled with the real-politics of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it was inevitable that the radical Hussite elements would clash with the more conservative ones. If they're not fighting Sigismund then they're involved in internal struggles, if not against Imperial and Catholic supporters then amongst themselves. When facing foreign foes their armies were seen as invincible; Catholic forces began to question whose side God really was on and this religious doubt was encouraged by the spreading of Hussite leaflets among the Germans - an act that predates and predicts the power of the printing press and can be seen as sowing the seeds of what was to come.
The sudden death of Ziska, of plague, comes as a surprise. More significant is the treatment of his body by his German foe when the Czechs lost their freedom; like Wycliff and Cromwell, it was disinterred and buried as a criminal's corpse. Such is fear and hate. The moderate Hussites, ultimately, came out the victors. They annihilated the Taborites at Lipany and were able to establish peace abroad... until the Thirty Years War came along.
The Hussite Revolution is an important moment in European history: it presaged the civil strife that would come with the Reformation a century later, it showed what was militarily possible with an organised and disciplined army inspired by religious zealotry. It was also the first crack in the shell of the feudal system since, at its height, everyone was seen as being equal before the law. At times one feels one is observing the birth of the modern world.
In Matejko's painting, just behind and to the right of Ziska is the Polish knight, Zawista Czarny. He was one of the greatest knights of his era, famed throughout Europe. I always found it strange that this knight is not wearing armour and should be using a lance in such close combat but, because of his proximity to Ziska, I have always linked the two in my mind. It therefore came as a surprise to me to discover that Ziska never actually fought at Grunwald and that he and Zawista Czarny found themselves on opposite sides in the Second anti-Hussite Crusade. Little things...
So it was with genuine interest that I picked up this book (it had Matejko's Ziska on the cover!). Initially I was disappointed as a slightly confusing introduction seemed to spend as much time on the intrigues of Hungary as it did in the Czech lands. It is only later that I began to appreciate what the author was trying to do; I began to feel that this tale is like a jigsaw puzzle in which my lazy brain is being pushed to start making the connections as the picture comes together. These were interesting, chaotic times, and interesting times create opportunities for individuals to overcome disadvantages in life. The chaos of the late 1300s and early 1400s was a crucible within which much of the future was forged.
There is a good explanation of the religious situation in Bohemia, of how the Papal crisis of the 1300s led to the questioning of certain religious issues (especially that of Papal Infallibility and even of the right of the Papacy to leadership). There are also strong connections between the translation of the Bible into the vernacular with the growth of nationalist feelings. The Anglo-Bohemian links of the late 1300s led to the spread of the teachings of Wycliffe in Bohemia and gradually the unsteadiness of the religious and political situation led to disobedience to the Holy Roman Emperor, the Hussite Revolution and war.
We dive straight into the Hussite Revolution, and the first Defenestration of Prague, without any real explanation of what was so attractive about the doctrines of Hus; there are suggestions that somehow everything is linked to the chaos of the Papal crisis of the 1300s, to the growth of anti-German feelings, to the rise of Pan-Slavism and even in the birth pangs of Czech nationalism - why? What encouraged these feelings? Was it simply a desire for order within chaos or was it, as hinted at, much more complex? And against this background we have Ziska, one-eyed, rising from relative obscurity and poverty to becoming the king's man, the Queen's chamberlain and, later, the inspired leader of the Hussite army. It was Ziska who realised the importance of discipline, and of the use of weaponry and tactics developed for a largely peasant force expected to meet disorganised heavy cavalry in battle. Ziska created the first really modern army.
The Imperial response to the revolt is dealt with well; we begin to see what a devious politician the regent, Sigismund of Luxembourg, is and what the Czechs had to put up with. Sigismund's indecisiveness and the arrogance of his German forces in thinking it would all be over soon resulted in their eventual, ignominious retreat, not just once but on every occasion they came in their crusades. Ziska, on the other hand, showed himself to be decisive and his prestige rose as a result.
What becomes really obvious is the antagonism felt by the Czechs for the Germans and the desire for autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire. Czech nationalism linked with the desire for religious freedoms, in other words, acts as a driving force in this unfolding story.
Once the immediate threat was dissipated, however, then problems arose between the more moderate (Calixtine or Utraquist) and more radical (Taborite) arms of Hussitism. It is never made clear why Ziska allied himself with the radicals because there are times when he became concerned about some of their beliefs and behaviour, but there can be no doubt that he turned the zealous Taborites into a might military force.
This is a real tale of intrigue and violence. It is interesting how all revolutions seem to run out of control as different factions arise and as extremists act, dissatisfied with the pace of things. Ziska appears to be in the background throughout yet he is the real driving force; an able leader, a pious man. At times his actions appear severe and reminiscent of the extremism of religious zealots yet most of the time he seems to reign in extremism. These were violent times with brutal taking of lives; burning prisoners in barns and churches, throwing them alive down mine shafts, mass slaughter.
Amidst all the machinations of Sigismund and his German forces, coupled with the real-politics of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it was inevitable that the radical Hussite elements would clash with the more conservative ones. If they're not fighting Sigismund then they're involved in internal struggles, if not against Imperial and Catholic supporters then amongst themselves. When facing foreign foes their armies were seen as invincible; Catholic forces began to question whose side God really was on and this religious doubt was encouraged by the spreading of Hussite leaflets among the Germans - an act that predates and predicts the power of the printing press and can be seen as sowing the seeds of what was to come.
The sudden death of Ziska, of plague, comes as a surprise. More significant is the treatment of his body by his German foe when the Czechs lost their freedom; like Wycliff and Cromwell, it was disinterred and buried as a criminal's corpse. Such is fear and hate. The moderate Hussites, ultimately, came out the victors. They annihilated the Taborites at Lipany and were able to establish peace abroad... until the Thirty Years War came along.
The Hussite Revolution is an important moment in European history: it presaged the civil strife that would come with the Reformation a century later, it showed what was militarily possible with an organised and disciplined army inspired by religious zealotry. It was also the first crack in the shell of the feudal system since, at its height, everyone was seen as being equal before the law. At times one feels one is observing the birth of the modern world.
In Matejko's painting, just behind and to the right of Ziska is the Polish knight, Zawista Czarny. He was one of the greatest knights of his era, famed throughout Europe. I always found it strange that this knight is not wearing armour and should be using a lance in such close combat but, because of his proximity to Ziska, I have always linked the two in my mind. It therefore came as a surprise to me to discover that Ziska never actually fought at Grunwald and that he and Zawista Czarny found themselves on opposite sides in the Second anti-Hussite Crusade. Little things...
May 16, 2022
I had a pamphlet on the Hussite Wars, which I lost, and wanted to take a deeper dive. As a Medieval History student, I found a great deal here I did not know- yet the tone is always that of a general history and I'm sure most folks would get a lot from this book.
The author moves from religious to political to social matters very smoothly, and even though there is a TON to cover, handles it very well, by coming back time and again to the "protagonist" in the character of Jan Zizka. This is one of those stories you don't need anything outside the facts to marvel at- the author clarifies areas where we don't know for sure, picks the most likely explanation, moves on smoothly, and overall leaves you with a sense of excitement about a pivotal time in history.
I'm rethinking my ideas about the Reformation, about eastern Europe, about medieval battles, and much more because of this book. Fabulous!
The author moves from religious to political to social matters very smoothly, and even though there is a TON to cover, handles it very well, by coming back time and again to the "protagonist" in the character of Jan Zizka. This is one of those stories you don't need anything outside the facts to marvel at- the author clarifies areas where we don't know for sure, picks the most likely explanation, moves on smoothly, and overall leaves you with a sense of excitement about a pivotal time in history.
I'm rethinking my ideas about the Reformation, about eastern Europe, about medieval battles, and much more because of this book. Fabulous!
July 21, 2020
I give it a three star simply because it’s such a narrow topic and the author did not or could not provide enough “anchors” or “historical scaffolding” for the reader to get the most out it. An overview or two of these times of war should be read beforehand and then insert this treatise into it. I would read it again as there is nothing untoward about the data it contains. In the end we learn that no one is really a hero in real life if there religious zealotry. I unfortunately learned am that even Žižka was a very narrow minded fanatic and made many lives miserable because of it.
January 5, 2014
Unfortunately the Hussite Wars are largely unknown and overlooked. This uprising against the Catholic Church took place long before the Reformation and brought with it many innovations in tactics and equipment (such as the first effective use of gunpowder weapons in battle). Jan Zizka was an outstanding general and is highly thought of even today for his leadership ability and innovative spirit. This book details the political atmosphere in Bohemia leading up to the wars and gives an excellent military analysis of the various subsequent battles. I picked this book up before one of my last trips to Prague and it was really helpful during some of my battlefield visits. This is an excellent book on a subject with a dearth of information written in English.
April 22, 2022
An excellent book on the General (Zizka) who had taken up the gauntlet for the Hussite wars. An excellent and riveting book. Numerous twists and turns in the battle and war for existence and to believe what one chooses to believe and think! Well worth it for any Christian, and reformer, to understand their historic up comming (if that is such a thing).
August 5, 2017
There's little in English about the Hussites or Zizka so this modern, decently researched and well written book should be appreciated by anyone who is interested in those topics. I found it fascinating, though at times it was easy to get lost in the foreign names and places. The author doesn't seem to have a great deal of care for the intricacies of theology, so at times it was hard to figure out how much Biblical some of the people's teachings were. Left me looking for more, in a good way.
February 8, 2015
A good readable biography of a great commander. Alas, it is not an academic research, but there are too few books on Hussites, so this one is welcome. It was interesting to see that the Hussite movement itself was more complex than I imagined, but that the legend of their victories was true. It’s exciting how invincible Hussite peasants were against all that German crusaders could fling.
February 4, 2017
Jan zkzka is a boss
Real good book. Gives all the names, swipes away any informational errors the Hussite book by osprey and is as much a political reading of the Hussite movement as a military one.
Real good book. Gives all the names, swipes away any informational errors the Hussite book by osprey and is as much a political reading of the Hussite movement as a military one.
March 20, 2025
This book serves as a reasonable introductory resource on Jan Žižka and 15th-century Bohemia. It fills a significant gap, as accessible English-language monographs on these topics remain relatively scarce. However, the book does not engage sufficiently with more recent academic discussions, which would have enriched its depth and analytical rigor. Much of its content follows a straightforward, chronicle-like narrative, primarily recounting military movements and engagements in a descriptive manner (e.g., "X marched with a force of Y men to location A to confront B"). While the sections addressing broader social and religious history are engaging, they would have benefited from greater depth and contextual analysis.
The author appears to dismiss contemporary European scholarship on the Hussite Revolution, suggesting that continental historians—particularly from nationalist traditions—exhibit inherent biases. (something that is rather widespread in certain uninformed anglophone circles unfortunately) While this criticism may apply to 19th- and early 20th-century works (some of which the author cites), it is no longer applicable to the wealth of more modern and contemporary academic contributions on the subject. Moreover, there are indications that the author may not have been proficient in neither Czech nor German, as suggested by his odd description and use of terms such as the German Landfrieden. This linguistic limitation may have contributed to some of the book’s shortcomings and are, perhaps, the actual reason why it misses a more solid historiographical background.
For readers seeking another (perhaps more reliable) introduction to the topics discussed, I would recommend consulting volumes VI and VII of The New Cambridge Medieval History, which contain introductory chapters on the Hussite movement as well as the general historical context of the holy roman empire, bohemia, germany, feudalism, etc. etc. . From there, one can use the bibliographies in the relevant chapters for further readings.
The author appears to dismiss contemporary European scholarship on the Hussite Revolution, suggesting that continental historians—particularly from nationalist traditions—exhibit inherent biases. (something that is rather widespread in certain uninformed anglophone circles unfortunately) While this criticism may apply to 19th- and early 20th-century works (some of which the author cites), it is no longer applicable to the wealth of more modern and contemporary academic contributions on the subject. Moreover, there are indications that the author may not have been proficient in neither Czech nor German, as suggested by his odd description and use of terms such as the German Landfrieden. This linguistic limitation may have contributed to some of the book’s shortcomings and are, perhaps, the actual reason why it misses a more solid historiographical background.
For readers seeking another (perhaps more reliable) introduction to the topics discussed, I would recommend consulting volumes VI and VII of The New Cambridge Medieval History, which contain introductory chapters on the Hussite movement as well as the general historical context of the holy roman empire, bohemia, germany, feudalism, etc. etc. . From there, one can use the bibliographies in the relevant chapters for further readings.
November 17, 2022
While the book is extremely comprehensive on the life of such an interesting and important man, it was extremely dry and took repeated attempts to get through. At times I had to force myself to continue reading which shouldn't have been the case. Jan Zizka lived a life that Hollywood movie makers wish they could use for their heroes. He was a bandit who became a great and righteous leader who continued to win on the battlefield even after he was completely blind.
Why then is it that this author (who is impressively knowledgeable about the topic) unable to write in a way which holds your attention for more than 10 or so pages at a time? The writing and facts are all here and will serve you well if you need to write a paper on Jan Zizka...but for the layman who is merely curious, this will be a long and arduous endeavour. Be prepared to take notes if you want to fully comprehend and understand this book.
Why then is it that this author (who is impressively knowledgeable about the topic) unable to write in a way which holds your attention for more than 10 or so pages at a time? The writing and facts are all here and will serve you well if you need to write a paper on Jan Zizka...but for the layman who is merely curious, this will be a long and arduous endeavour. Be prepared to take notes if you want to fully comprehend and understand this book.
July 8, 2020
***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***
The fight of the Bohemians against forces stronger than them in the Hussite War is one of the great feats of history. In the book, Warrior of God Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution, Victor Verney covers both the revolution and the life of one of the generals that made there victories possible. The reader is given a look at the political and social turmoil happening in Bohemia as the revolution rolled on and the military beat the odds time after time under the leadership of Jan Zizka. The author also gave a good in-depth look at the religious tensions that divided the Hussite communities. The book isn't bad but it isn't there are times when the writing is dry and can be a bit hard to read through. This book is good for anyone who is interested in European history.
Rating: 3/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend
The fight of the Bohemians against forces stronger than them in the Hussite War is one of the great feats of history. In the book, Warrior of God Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution, Victor Verney covers both the revolution and the life of one of the generals that made there victories possible. The reader is given a look at the political and social turmoil happening in Bohemia as the revolution rolled on and the military beat the odds time after time under the leadership of Jan Zizka. The author also gave a good in-depth look at the religious tensions that divided the Hussite communities. The book isn't bad but it isn't there are times when the writing is dry and can be a bit hard to read through. This book is good for anyone who is interested in European history.
Rating: 3/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend
January 14, 2021
The definitive English-language book about Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution.
Organized in a logical, straightforward manner, it does a wonderful job telling the story of this interesting period of Czech history.
The only drawback is that it doesn't do a particularly great job explaining the nature of the religious dispute between the Hussites and the Catholic Church. Those more interested in that side of the dispute may wish to look elsewhere.
Organized in a logical, straightforward manner, it does a wonderful job telling the story of this interesting period of Czech history.
The only drawback is that it doesn't do a particularly great job explaining the nature of the religious dispute between the Hussites and the Catholic Church. Those more interested in that side of the dispute may wish to look elsewhere.
February 18, 2023
A niche topic that deserves more attention - if the subject is of interest, this book is reasonably well developed and written, clear in drawing the lines throughout Žižka's life and relatively clear in the assorted cast of characters and their ever changing allegiances, and not too dry for an academic style text. I hope a decent Hollywood director picks it up someday.
March 14, 2021
Good coverage of an often over looked period of European history
Stumbled into this while researching a related topic. Zika is a stud! Very much worth knowing about. Bohemia is an important country with a great story to tell. Highly recommended read.
Stumbled into this while researching a related topic. Zika is a stud! Very much worth knowing about. Bohemia is an important country with a great story to tell. Highly recommended read.
June 29, 2025
This was a good introduction to this history as someone who hasn't really dipped into it before. I do wish some sections were a bit more organized and chronological, which would have made me get an easier read. Other than that, I have no complaints and had a great time.
June 10, 2025
underrated part of history
all my homies hate sigismund
all my homies hate sigismund
April 27, 2020
Good for those doing any kind of research on the Hussites and/or the revolution. Some people and moments talked about. It's decent.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews