Diviš Bořek of Miletínka
Encyclopedia
Diviš Bořek ov Miletínka was a captain of the Hussites in Eastern and Central Bohemia.
He started his career as a poor, rural nobleman. After Jan Hus
had been burned at the stake in Constance
, he joined the Hussites. At first, he was a leader of the more radical Hussites and a comrade of Jan Žižka
; later he became more moderate and even fought against the Taborites.
In 1420, he and the priest Ambrož Hradecký
conquered Hradec Králové
. In 1421, he conquered and looted the Benedictine
monastery at Opatovice
in eastern Bohemia. He confiscated their lands and in 1423, he built a small castle on mount Kunětická Hora, which he named after the mountain: Kunětice Mountain Castle
.
In June and July 1423 he and Strážnice ze Bedrich led a campaign to Moravia
, in which they defeated the armies of the Bishop John XII "the Iron" of Olomouc and the Prince Přemek of Opava
. After his return to Bohemia, the Hussite armies were attacked at Strážnice near Hradec Králové
( by the armies of Jan Žižka
, whom they had regarded as fellow Hussites. Jan Žižka defeated them and took the abundant prey they had conquered in Moravia.
In subsequent years, he led campaigns of conquest to eastern Bohemia and became a captain in Pardubice
and Leitomischl. In 1427 he supported as a captain of Kolín
the moderate Utraquists and hosted the delegation, who at this meeting decided the attack Prague. This plan was betrayed and the army was massacred. In return, Andreas Prokop led his army to Kolin and besieged it. Diviš could keep up the defense of the city for three months, until the poor population of the city, who sympathized with the radical Hussites, forced him to surrender. Diviš agreed with the besiegers on the surrender of the city in return for free passage.
In later years he was one of the leaders of the moderate Hussites and stood in the forefront of the combined armies of the Utraquists and the Catholics under the leadership of King Sigismund
of Luxembourg in the Battle of Lipan on 30 May 1434, where he defeated the armies of the Sirotčí
and the Taborites. As a reward for his loyal service, he was finally enfeoffed with the lands of Kunětická Hora and other areas. In 1436 he also bought Pardubice
.
His participation in the Hussite wars brought him a large fortune. He died as one of the richest man in Eastern Bohemia. His inheritance was divided among his sons, who lost it just as quickly.
He started his career as a poor, rural nobleman. After Jan Hus
Jan Hus
Jan Hus , often referred to in English as John Hus or John Huss, was a Czech priest, philosopher, reformer, and master at Charles University in Prague...
had been burned at the stake in Constance
Constance
Constance is a female given name that derives from Latin and means "constant." Variations of the name include Connie, Constancia, Constanze, Constanza, Stanzy, and Konstanze.Constance may refer to:-People:*Constance Bennett , American actress...
, he joined the Hussites. At first, he was a leader of the more radical Hussites and a comrade of 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"...
; later he became more moderate and even fought against the Taborites.
In 1420, he and the priest Ambrož Hradecký
Ambrož Hradecký
Ambrož Hradecký was a Bohemian priest, preacher and political leader in the era of the Hussite Wars.- Life :Ambrož is first mentioned in 1419 as pastor of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in the East Bohemian town of Hradec Králové . Queen Sofia and her burgrave had him driven out of town, because he...
conquered Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
. In 1421, he conquered and looted the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery at Opatovice
Opatovice nad Labem
Opatovice nad Labem is a village in Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has cca 2,200 inhabitants. A large power station is located here.-External links:*...
in eastern Bohemia. He confiscated their lands and in 1423, he built a small castle on mount Kunětická Hora, which he named after the mountain: Kunětice Mountain Castle
Kunetice Mountain Castle
Kunětice Mountain Castle is a castle in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The castle lies on Kunětice Mountain , about 6 km from the city of Pardubice....
.
In June and July 1423 he and Strážnice ze Bedrich led a campaign to Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, in which they defeated the armies of the Bishop John XII "the Iron" of Olomouc and the Prince Přemek of Opava
Opava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
. After his return to Bohemia, the Hussite armies were attacked at Strážnice near Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
( by the armies of 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"...
, whom they had regarded as fellow Hussites. Jan Žižka defeated them and took the abundant prey they had conquered in Moravia.
In subsequent years, he led campaigns of conquest to eastern Bohemia and became a captain in Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
and Leitomischl. In 1427 he supported as a captain of Kolín
Kolín
Kolín is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic some east from Prague, lying on the Elbe river.-History:Kolín was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1261. Later on, 1437, a castle was founded here...
the moderate Utraquists and hosted the delegation, who at this meeting decided the attack Prague. This plan was betrayed and the army was massacred. In return, Andreas Prokop led his army to Kolin and besieged it. Diviš could keep up the defense of the city for three months, until the poor population of the city, who sympathized with the radical Hussites, forced him to surrender. Diviš agreed with the besiegers on the surrender of the city in return for free passage.
In later years he was one of the leaders of the moderate Hussites and stood in the forefront of the combined armies of the Utraquists and the Catholics under the leadership of King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
of Luxembourg in the Battle of Lipan on 30 May 1434, where he defeated the armies of the Sirotčí
Sirotčí
Sirotčí , was a radical wing of the followers of Hussites. The association, founded in 1423 consisted mostly of city nobles, who joined with Jan Zizka and joined the East Bohemian Hussites, the so-called Orebites. From 1428, they were led by the priest Andreas Prokop...
and the Taborites. As a reward for his loyal service, he was finally enfeoffed with the lands of Kunětická Hora and other areas. In 1436 he also bought Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
.
His participation in the Hussite wars brought him a large fortune. He died as one of the richest man in Eastern Bohemia. His inheritance was divided among his sons, who lost it just as quickly.