Battle of Horic
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Hořice was fought on April 27, 1423 between the Taborite
and Utraquist factions of the Hussites. The Hussites were led by Jan Žižka
, while the Utraquists were led by Čeněk of Wartenberg
. The Taborite
s eventually won this battle, which ended the Hussite Civil War. Throughout the Hussite Wars, there were many different factions of Hussites. The only thing keeping them allied against the Crusaders was a common and more threatening enemy to fight. Once they could not see any Germans around, the various factions of Hussites would fight each other.
The Taborites took the high ground
and built their Wagenburg (wagon fort) there. The Utraquist cavalry could not ride up such a steep hill and was forced to dismount. The cannons owned by the nobles could not fire effectively uphill. These circumstances made it a battle between infantry behind fortifications and heavily armored infantry in the field. Žižka's men held the Wagenburg against repeated attacks by dismounted cavalry. Then, Žižka decided that the time was right to counterattack. With some cavalry, the Hussites charged downhill and swept the Utraquists from the battlefield.
Taborite
The Taborites were members of a religious community considered heretical by the Catholic Church. The Taborites were centered on the Bohemian city of Tábor during the Hussite Wars in the 15th century. The religious reform movement in Bohemia splintered into various religious sects...
and Utraquist factions of the Hussites. The Hussites were led by Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha , Czech general and Hussite leader, follower of Jan Hus, was born at small village Trocnov in Bohemia, into a gentried family. He was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka"...
, while the Utraquists were led by Čeněk of Wartenberg
Cenek of Wartenberg
Čeněk of Wartenberg was a commander of the Royalist Bohemian forces at the start of the Hussite Wars. Up until the first half of 1420 he was a commander of the Utraquist League, a moderate faction of the Hussite movement...
. The Taborite
Taborite
The Taborites were members of a religious community considered heretical by the Catholic Church. The Taborites were centered on the Bohemian city of Tábor during the Hussite Wars in the 15th century. The religious reform movement in Bohemia splintered into various religious sects...
s eventually won this battle, which ended the Hussite Civil War. Throughout the Hussite Wars, there were many different factions of Hussites. The only thing keeping them allied against the Crusaders was a common and more threatening enemy to fight. Once they could not see any Germans around, the various factions of Hussites would fight each other.
The Taborites took the high ground
High ground
High ground is a spot of elevated terrain which can be useful in military tactics. Fighting from an elevated position is easier for a number of reasons. Soldiers will tire more quickly when fighting uphill, will move more slowly, and if fighting in formation will have little ability to see beyond...
and built their Wagenburg (wagon fort) there. The Utraquist cavalry could not ride up such a steep hill and was forced to dismount. The cannons owned by the nobles could not fire effectively uphill. These circumstances made it a battle between infantry behind fortifications and heavily armored infantry in the field. Žižka's men held the Wagenburg against repeated attacks by dismounted cavalry. Then, Žižka decided that the time was right to counterattack. With some cavalry, the Hussites charged downhill and swept the Utraquists from the battlefield.