The Hussite Wars, 1419-36 (Men at Arms, 409)

Rating:
Summary: The Glorious story of Jan Zizka and the hussite revolution
Review: The Hussite Revolution(or Hussite Crusade)is little know outside the borders of the modern Czech Republic and Jan Hus the famous preacher of the 15th century who spoke out against the corruption of the Papal Catholicism (indulgences). He derided the comfortable life of establishment clergy and demanded a moral decency based on the teachings of Christ. With three Popes simultaneously occupying the chair of Peter, how could anyone respect the Catholic hierarchy? Hus make some reformation to the liturgy like singing in Czech and the communion in both kind,(wine and breath, when I was a Kid in Nicaragua it was rare to receive both, that was in 1983)everyone was raised in a surge of religious reformation combined with Czech national pride, at the end Jan Hus was put to trial for heresy and was burned to death at the stake. The death of this hero for many Bohemias sparked a hussite Movement which consisted of two distinct parts, the moderate Utraquists (utrae means equal, because of the communion in either form) and the radical Taborites (after the town of Tabor which they founded). Jan Zizka's support the Hus beliefs and was one of the Taborites General.

With all this details is hard to make a clear explanation in 48 pages but as other titles of Mr. Turnbull has made a nice clear summary of the Hussite Wars and a great contribution for all the fans of late medieval military history. The illustrations by Angus McBride are excellent both the Armies of the Hussite Wars(The Crusaders and the Hussites). The innovations of Jan Zizka would last well into the 16th Century, the use of the famous Hussite wagons, the important of the missilemen with handguns and artillery, although the Hussites were by no means the inventors of medievak artillery, their employment of firearms showed an understandings of how to use technology to its best effect. We follow the Hussite wars from the 1419 to the Wars of the Orphans(which is another part little known)Zizka although a National hero in the Czech Republic was until recently a little known General in the West, with the dead of Zizka a new leader Prokop the Great change the Hussite strategys of defensive to invading any neightbours territories,The Hussite cause after many years of resiting finally died on the battlefield of Lipany in 1434 were Hussite fought Hussite and the Hussite movement began to destroy each other, sadly there are no small maps like other editions dedicated to the wars of the Reformation(the German Peasants' War of 1524-MMA 384)but some good illustrations,photographs of surviving armour,weaponry and equipment,battle wagons or War Wagons reproduction and drawings.

This book is a must, too brief but still highly informative, Stephen Turnbull has specialized in Asian military history, Korea, Eastern Europe, the Baltic states and the Teutonic Knights.