The Defenestrations of Prague Explained

The defenestrations of Prague consist of three significant historical events, all characterized by the act of throwing individuals out of windows, leading to shocking consequences. The first event in 1419 involved followers of Jan Hus demanding the release of Hussite prisoners, culminating in the defenestration of city officials when their demands were refused. This pivotal act marked the onset of organized violence in the Hussite Wars, which spanned from 1419 to 1434, as tensions escalated between Catholics and the emerging Hussite movement in a landscape already fraught with political and religious conflicts. Subsequent events, such as a second defenestration in 1483, further solidified the pattern of violent responses to perceived oppression, demonstrating the ongoing volatility of Prague's political climate.