From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Usti nad Labem, or the Battle of Ústí nad Labem in Czech, was fought on June 16, 1426, between the Catholic Crusaders and the Hussites during the Fourth Crusade of the Hussite Wars. The Crusade was called because the Pope believed that after the death of Jan Zizka the Hussite armies would be easily defeated. The overall commander of the Hussite forces at the battle was Sigismund Korybut, while Prokop the Great was independently in command of the Taborites. Boso of Vitzthum was the leader of the crusading army. The Hussites had 24,000 soldiers and at least 500 war wagons. The Crusaders had 70,000 men. The Crusaders approached Usti nad Labem in three columns and were accompanied by 3,000 war wagons and 180 artillery pieces. The Hussites drew up their Wagenburg on one of the hills near the town. A Crusader cavalry assault on the wagon fortress began the battle. The knights could have been equipped with very large battle axes or hammers because one account of the battle has them hewing through the retaining chains on the wagons to breach through the fortress and get inside the Wagenburg. Then, the knights broke through a second defensive line that was made up of pavises. This was the highest point of Crusader morale in the whole battle. The Hussite cavalry inside the Wagenburg had left and attacked the knights trying to breach the wagon chains from the rear. The knights were then surrounded and fell under a huge barrage of artillery, crossbow, and handgun fire. The Hussites then charged in on the knights and showed no mercy. One source estimates that 50,000 troops that were trying to surrender were slaughtered by the Hussites. The actual battle was brief, and for that reason, it is possible that no more than 5,000 soldiers were lost on the crusader side. However, after the battle, many of the crusaders fled to local villages. It is estimated that with those added, the total loss was 14 counts and barons and 50,000 soldiers.
[edit] External links
