How Many Defenestrations of Prague Were There?

By Anna Duncan

Defenestration of Prague is a significant event in the history of Bohemia, which is now known as the Czech Republic. The term ‘defenestration’ literally means to throw someone or something out of a window, and this event has become famous for two instances when it occurred in Prague.

The First Defenestration of Prague

The first defenestration took place in 1419, during the Hussite Wars. The Hussites were followers of Jan Hus, a religious reformer who was executed by the Catholic Church for heresy. The Hussites were protesting against the Catholic Church and its supporters in Bohemia.

On July 30th, 1419, a group of Hussites gathered at the New Town Hall in Prague to protest against the city’s Catholic officials. During the protest, they broke into the town hall and threw several officials out of its windows.

This event became known as the First Defenestration of Prague and marked the beginning of the Hussite Wars.

The Second Defenestration of Prague

The second defenestration took place on May 23rd, 1618, during the Thirty Years’ War. This war was fought between Protestants and Catholics in Europe and had a significant impact on Bohemia.

In 1617, Ferdinand II was elected as King of Bohemia. He was a devout Catholic and began to implement policies that discriminated against Protestants in Bohemia. The Protestant nobles protested against these policies but were ignored by Ferdinand II.

On May 23rd, 1618, a group of Protestant nobles stormed into Prague Castle to confront Ferdinand II’s representatives. During this confrontation, they threw two Catholic officials out of a window on the third floor of Prague Castle.

This event became known as the Second Defenestration of Prague and marked the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there were two defenestrations in Prague that have become famous in history. The first defenestration took place in 1419 during the Hussite Wars, while the second defenestration took place in 1618 during the Thirty Years’ War. Both events marked significant turning points in the history of Bohemia and Europe.