How Many Defenestrations Happened in Prague?

By Anna Duncan

Defenestration refers to the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. The word comes from the Latin word “fenestra,” which means window, and “de” meaning out of. When one thinks of defenestration, the first event that comes to mind is the Defenestration of Prague.

The Defenestration of Prague happened on May 23, 1618, in Prague, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. This event marked the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War and is considered one of the most significant events in European history.

The defenestration involved a group of Protestant nobles who were unhappy with the Catholic Habsburg rule. They stormed into Prague Castle and threw two Catholic officials, Jaroslav Borzita von Martinitz and Wilhelm Slavata, along with their secretary Philip Fabricius out of a window. All three men survived the fall thanks to a pile of manure below the window.

This event led to an uprising against Habsburg rule in Bohemia and eventually escalated into a larger conflict known as the Thirty Years’ War. The war lasted from 1618 to 1648 and involved most European powers at that time.

Despite its significance, the Defenestration of Prague was not an isolated incident. In fact, there were two other defenestrations that occurred in Prague before this event.

The first defenestration happened in 1419 when Czech Hussites threw several members of a town council out of a window due to religious tensions between Catholics and Hussites. This event is known as the First Defenestration of Prague.

The second defenestration happened in 1483 when members of rival factions competing for control over King Ladislaus II’s government threw each other out of windows during a meeting at Hradčany Castle. This event is known as the Second Defenestration of Prague.

While these events may seem like isolated incidents, they played significant roles in shaping the history of Prague and Europe. The Defenestration of Prague, in particular, sparked a war that lasted for thirty years and resulted in the deaths of millions of people.

In conclusion, three defenestrations took place in Prague throughout history. The most famous one, the Defenestration of Prague, happened in 1618 and marked the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War. While throwing someone out of a window may seem like a bizarre way to start or end a conflict, these events show how far people are willing to go to achieve their goals.