29.3 Europe: a.d. 1401 to 1500  (Page 7/16)

(1) Mass should be given in wine as well as wafer. (2) Simony should be punished. (3) The word of God should be preached rather than doctrines. (4) There should be an end to the extensive wealth of the clergy.

The Bohemian Revolution actually became the Hussite Wars, which, in turn, became socialistic in character. The Germans in Bohemia wanted to remain faithful to the Roman Church and the Hussites made them their victims, with battles, massacres and persecutions. All elements of the later Luther Reformation appeared first in this Hussite Movement. Wenceslaus IV died in 1419 and Bohemia had no king for 17 years, during which time the Hussites were dominant. Eventually they began to argue among themselves, however, and broke up into various factions. The more radical wing formed the "Moravian Brethren" sect and in eastern Bohemia and Moravia the Moravian Brotherhood Church was formed in 1457. By 1500 there were 100,000 members, renouncing the authority of the Roman Church and dedicating themselves to the New Testament. This church still exists today. In the meantime there was peace in 1436 with compromises on the part of the Empire and the Church. This peace was apparently stimulated as the more conservative elements of the Hussites were shocked as some of the radicals formed communist groups. When the conservatives allied themselves with the orthodox Catholics again, the revolt was put down and Sigismund of Hungary, the son of Charles IV and a Bohemian, became king and then Holy Roman Emperor. Then came Albert II, an Habsburg and then Ladislas V of Hungary (Ladislas I in Bohemia), although actually George of Podebrad ruled for him. On the death of Ladislas, George was elected king (1458), but in 1471 the crown reverted to the kings of Hungary, beginning with Matthias Corvinus. In 1485, at the treaty of Kutna Hora, the Catholics and the Hussites, then called Ultraquists, pledged 30 years of peace.

Switzerland

The first half of the century was one of almost constant turmoil between the various cantons themselves and with the Holy Roman Empire. The Canton of Uri began expansion westward to get control of the passes into Italy, but the Swiss were driven out by the Duke of Savoy in 1413. From 1436 to 1450 there was civil war between Zurich and some of her neighbors over the succession to the domains of the Count of Toggenburg. Zurich allied itself with the German Emperor, who, in turn, called in the French, but they were all defeated by the soldiers of Schwyz and the French withdrew. The emperor made peace at Constance in 1446 and the cantons made their own peace by 1450. The general effect was to strengthen the Confederacy, although the country was still allied to the empire. The Swiss cantons were suppliers of meat to Germany and northern Italy. Geneva re-instituted the great fair concept that had declined in Champagne in the previous century. (Ref. 279 , 292 )

But the Swiss still had wars to fight. From 1474 to 1477 there was the Great War against Charles the Bold of Burgundy, who had eyes on Alsace. The Swiss had great victories at Granson and Morat in 1476 and Nancy in 1477, squashing Charles' plans. It was after this that Swiss pikemen were in great demand in Europe as mercenaries. There was war with Milan in 1478 and even war again with the emperor in 1499 over some territories in the east. The Swiss had French financial help and by September, in the Treaty of Basel, the confederation became independent in fact, if not yet formally. (Ref. 119 )