The 鈥淒efenestrations of Prague鈥 were significant events in Czech history where political and religious leaders were thrown out the window in protest of their policies.
The first Defenestration of Prague in 1419 led to the start of the Hussite Wars. The Hussites were a group of Protestants who were protesting the corruption in the Catholic government. They got their name from Jan Hus, who was killed for his 鈥渞adical鈥 progressive beliefs including wider access to education and religious text available in the Czech language. This led to a series of protests against the government and the defenestration of government officials. During the defenestration, Jan 沤别濒颈惫蝉办媒, a Hussite priest, led a group of radical Czech Hussites and killed 7 members of the city council by throwing them out the window. This was a result of growing discontentment with the Holy Roman Empire, the Catholic church, and the inequality between peasants and Catholic noblemen.
The second (sometimes third) Defenestration of Prague led to the start of the Thirty Years鈥 War in 1618. The conflict arose between the Protestants (Bohemians) and Catholics (Hapsburgs) over the building of Protestant churches. The disagreement resulted in the defenestration of three Catholics who were involved in the decision to ban the building of Protestant churches. This was the response to restricting religious freedoms that have been in the country since the Letter of Majesty signed by Emperor Rudolf II in 1609.
Other significant defenestrations in Czech history include the defenestration of 1483 and the death of Jan Masaryk. In 1483, under the reign of King Vladislaus of Hungary, the Hussites overthrew the Catholic governments in Old, New, and Lesser Towns and threw the Old Town Councilor out the window. In 1948, Jan Masaryk鈥檚 body was found thrown out his window in what many suspect was a murder by the Communist government or the Soviets behind the government. Many consider this event to be the third major defenestration of Prague and the mystery around Masaryck鈥檚 death remains until today. More details concerning Jan Masaryck鈥檚 death will follow in the next blog post.