Hussite

Hussite refers to a follower of the religious reform movement that began in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) in the early 15th century, inspired by the Czech priest Jan Hus. Hus criticized the moral and political authority of the Catholic Church, called for church reform, and translated or promoted access to religious texts in the vernacular. Hus was executed in 1415, and his death helped catalyze a broad popular uprising that evolved into a distinctive Hussite movement.

During the ensuing decades the movement organized around Prague and broader Bohemia, leading to the Hussite Wars (1419–1434). The conflict pitted Hussite forces against various Catholic rulers and were marked by innovative tactics, including wagon forts used by military leaders such as Jan Žižka. By the mid-1430s the Hussites split into two main factions: the radical Taborites, centered in the town of Tábor, and the more moderate Calixtines, also called Utraquists, who supported communion in both kinds (the laity receiving both bread and wine) and engaged in negotiations with authorities. The latter faction gained recognition in the subsequent settlement, notably the Compact of Prague (1436), which granted legal status to the Utraquists within Bohemia.

Beliefs among Hussites varied by faction but commonly included rejection of papal supremacy, a preference for scriptural authority, and calls for moral and administrative reforms within the church. They emphasized lay participation and a simpler church structure, though doctrinal positions differed on sacraments and church governance.

The Hussite movement had a lasting influence on Bohemian religious life and contributed to broader reformist currents in Central Europe. Its legacy persisted in Czech religious identity and informed later Dutch and German Protestant currents, as well as debates surrounding church reform in the region.