14.8. 1431 Battle of Domažlice

The Battle of Domažlice became one of the most famous and one of the last Hussite victories. Cardinal Cesarini fled the battle disguised as a mere soldier.

In August 1431, one of the most important battles of the Hussite armies took place at Domažlice. Not militarily, but politically. In unknown places - somewhere in the area between Domažlice and Kdyní - the Hussite warlord Prokop Holý managed to turn 4.

The crusaders set out from Weiden in Bavaria, while the combined Hussite armies were concentrated near Pilsen. Soldiers from all the Hussite city unions were present, with Prince Sigismund Korybut of Lithuania as a guest. The speed of the Hussite infantry movement, which was 75 kilometres in two days, the poor communication, the confusion in the camp and the movement of the allied troops, which interpreted by their own commanders as flight, led to panic and subsequent flight, with the Crusaders throwing away all their possessions.

"The military booty of two thousand wagons and about 300 guns was incredible. Cardinal Cesarini fled the battle disguised as a mere soldier, and a papal bull with a call to fight the Hussites and the cardinal's golden crucifix fell into Hussite hands. On the side of the Crusade stood between 100 and 200 thousand soldiers against about 400 thousand Caliphs," Milan and Roman Plcha describe in their book Where to Go for Military Monuments.

The enormous political significance of the battle was that after this further debacle, Europe realised that it could not overwhelm the Hussite armies by force and began to negotiate with them. It is also interesting that, for example, the artillery of Rezekne carried three litres of wine and one litre of beer per person per day as necessary supplies for the battle.

"The Battle of Domažlice, which took place on 14. August 1431, eventually became one of the most famous and one of the last Hussite victories," Anna Kubíková points out in her book Oldřich II.

A gazebo in the shape of a cardinal's hat standing by the Mrákov - Kout road in Šumava is considered a monument to the battle. In fact, it is a gloriette that was built on Stadionova Street and has nothing to do with the battle. "The monument to the battle was to be built on Baldovsky Hill - about two kilometres north of Domažlice - on the spot from which Cardinal Cesarini commanded. All that remains is the laying of seven foundation stones with a finger of clay (from Vítkov, Vyšehrad, Tachov, Německý Brod, Tábor, Domažlice and Lipany) in 1931. To this day, the memorial has not been completed.

Sources:
Milan and Roman Plch, Where to go for military monuments
Anna Kubíková, Oldřich II. z Rožmberka
www.bitvaudomazlic.cz