Jan Zizka - Undefeated Czech General - Medieval Wars DOCUMENTARY

Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on the history of medieval era continues with a video on Jan Zizka (Žižka) - the Czech general who was the military leader of the Hussite movement and remained undefeated against a number of Crusades against the Hussites. Zizka helped develop the wagon fort (wagenburg) tactic that won numerous battles against the overwhelming forces of the crusading knights.

Music courtesy of EpidemicSound

#Documentary #Zizka #Medieval

[nenenindonu]

Zizka's eyes see nothing but victory

[patrikjahoda]

Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, had a long and successful reign. The Empire he ruled from Prague expaned, and his subjects lived in peace and prosperity. When he died, the whole Empire mourned. More than 7, 000 people accompanied him on his last procession. The heir to the throne of the flourishing Empire was Charles' son, Wenceslas IV, whose father had prepared him for this moment all his life. But Wenceslas did not take after his father. He neglected affairs of state for more frivolous pursuits. He even failed to turn up for his own coronation as Emperor, which did little to endear him to the Pope. Wenceslas "the Idle" did not impress the Imperial nobility either. His difficulties mounted until the nobles, exasperated by the inaction of their ruler, turned for help to his half-brother, King Sigismund of Hungary. Sigismund decided on a radical solution. He kidnapped the King to force him to abdicate, then took advantage of the ensuing disorder to gain greater power for himself. He invaded Bohemia with a massive army and began pillaging the territories of the King's allies. It is here that my story begins...

[hawkins]

The Czech videogame, Kingdome Come Deliverance takes place just a few years before Jan Žižka's rise to prominence, and the Hussite Wars discussed in this video. It is theoretically possible for Henry of Skalitz to shake hands with Jan Žižka.

Also, Žižka should be known as the father of mechanized warfare.

[MrKilitar]

I am already used to see top quality content here on this channel.
Just this time, as a native Czech, I must bow before an unusual language skill of this storyteller. Most of czech words used in this video related to city names and persons was pronounced perfectly or just with very minor flaws. It is very rare and uncommon, as we have some unique prononounced letters, to hear a foreigner with such good pronunciation.

If you do not have any previous experience with czech language, you must have trully unique linguistic sense.

And of course, excellent quality of content. Which probably won't surprise anyone watching this channel :) .

[niepowaznyczlowiek]

I love Jan Žižka he is a legend, and many Polish historians and armchair historians hold him in high regard.

[VusCZ]

Fun fact: After his death, Žižka allegedly ordered his men to skin his body and use his skin for a war drum, so that he could lead his men into battle even after death.

[teodorbabic]

So glad I had the opportunity to learn about this famous medieval European general. Big respect and greetings to great Czech people from Serbia !

[ElBandito]

If I get a penny every time the Czechs threw people outta the window of the city council of Prague, I'd have 3 pennies. It is not much but still incredible.

[Memanruler]

I would love to see a deeper dive into Czech medieval history, the Kingdom's interactions with the HRE and the Hapsburg political influence later on.

[historiaincognita]

Žižka's name really echoed throughout Czech history - there was even a Yugoslav Partisan brigade named after him during World War 2, composed of Czechs and Slovaks from Croatia.

[kikkik]

There's some interesting parallels between Jan Zizka and the Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
- Both primarily led armies in defensive struggles against overwhelming odds (defending against Catholic coalitions / defending against the Japanese)
- Both were undefeated in their particular area (land battles / naval battles)
- A good part of their victories can be ascribed to innovative armoured structures (Hussite wagon / turtle ship).
Both legends and national icons for their decedents up to this day as well of course!

[taycam]

One of the best Generals in military history! The Master of Asymmetrical warfare, Jan The Hussite Wars are easily one of the most interesting conflicts in human history and are not well known. Thank you for this video.

[Ruben-byoy]

great man
great hero of a great nation
with love from Armenia
🇦🇲❤️🇨🇿

[hardric]

Keep in mind the Hussites Wars continued for a decade after his death, and even if his Taborites faction lost to the Utraquistes, the Hussites pretty much won the war against the Catholics thanks to his tactics and how he shaped the Hussite armies. Zizka's wasn't just undefeated, he got the greatest kind of last victory: A secured legacy. And that one is likely the hardest one to achieve. I mean... *Looking at Alexander and the Diadochi*

[marekprochazka]

Thanks for making this video! I was a script consultant on the film Medieval and it's great to get these Czech stories out into the world.

[aaronharkins]

This guy is the definition of Alexander the Great’s quote: “I do not fear an army of lions lead by a sheep, but an army of sheep lead by a lion.” It may be misquoted, but that’s the gist of the quote

[adamnenicka]

Fun fact: word howitzer comes from butchered pronanciation of czech word houf whitch means crowd which nicely explaines how were canons on these waggons used. Because you would right before impact of enemy charge fire into their tightly packed formation, that would break their charge and cause panic among enemy soldiers.

[johandark]

One of the weapons used by hussites was "Píšťala" - gunpowder weapon in "hand cannon" family, and it is debated that word "Pistol" comes from this weapon. Another weapon - Houfnice - again gave name to whole weapon familly known in english as Howitzer. :)

[hyennussquatch]

Well done content. I´ve recently read a great and detailed book: "Jan Durdík - Husitské vojenství" about Hussite wars and warfare. The point is that pretty soon after Battle of Vítkov Hill, the Hussite army was far away from being a bunch of untrained peasants. This idea was a common mistake in some later historiography. For example the cannons and other guns (houfnice, tarasnice, píšťala - hightech of that era) as well as gun powder were mass produced in Hussite towns. Bohemian towns were rich in these times and many of Hussite soldiers were from these cities. In fact, Žižka´s armies were perfectly trained and organized with complex logistics. In their biggest battles more than a thousand war wagons were cleverly employed. It required perfect, swift and effective organisation and tactics. Žižka armies were also able to march up to 50km per day which was unmatched since Roman times. In fact Žižka armies were the first field armies in Medieval times and the second in Europe since ancient Rome legions (hats off to Rome). The raised catholic armies were not trained in this complex manner at all and were stunned by the unorthodox modernity of Hussite tactics and their efficiency. One of the battles i like the most was at Kutná hora: Žižka army was surrounded by catholic armies. The situation would seem rather desperate for a normal general of that era. But Žižka decided to wait until it's night and what happened next was the first use of mobile artillery in history... Žižka grouped his war wagons into a column and charged the enemy lines. The war wagons advanced rapidly, with all of their guns blazing... so they escaped easily while crusaders panicked totally.. Later on Žižka saved Kutná Hora from serious fire and soon after they defeated Crusaders again at village of Hubry. Fascinating military history. It´s safe to say Žižka was one of the most successful military innovators ever. Almost like a guy from future who got back to early 15th century. I just want to mention Žižka´s military mentor, Moravian nobleman Jan Sokol of Lamberk, so called Wild Falcon (falcon means sokol in czech, 1355-1410) who is a bit forgotten today. He was extremely successful military commander who fought in battle of Grunwald where he led the 4th Banner of St. George to a great success and become close friend of Polish king. It would be interesting to see him in Hussite wars but unfortunately he was poisoned in 1410 probably by Polish nobility because of his influence on Polish king. If he had been alive after 1420, the Hussites would have had two military geniuses at the early stage of war. Lastly i want to mention Žižka´s successor Prokop the Great (named the Great by Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini in his Historia Bohemica) who was also very skilled commander and also a priest - an intelectual, fluent in many languages, manager of Hussites logistics + he´s never carried any personnal weapon. He lost only one battle - the last one between Bohemian factions at Lipany where he was killed.

[so_qp]

The Game Changer of warfare. Being able to defeat the most modern and experienced european armies with higher numbers TWICE, just with peasants, farmers, fishermen is just incredible. Jan Zizka is really underrated European General.