Jan Zizka
and the
Hussite Wars
1419-1434

Papal Schism and John Huss

by Michael W. McGuire

A bitter dispute over Church taxation between Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip IV of France led to Philip IV's manipulation of a papal election, resulting in his candidate, Clement V, being elected Pope and transferring the papal residence to Avignon in 1309. For the next seventy years, French prelates would dominate Church government. Fearful that Italian domestic turmoil migirt result in the loss of papal territory in Italy, the last Avignon Pope, Gregory XI journeyed to Rome in 1376, where he died the next year. This created a problem for the French prelates, as canon law required a papal election be held where the previous pope had died (upon their convening in Rome, riots broke out as the local population vigorously demanded the election of an Italian pope. The terrorized curia elected the arch-bishop of Bari, Pope Urban VI. However, when safely away from Rome, the French cardinals voided the election, held another and installed Robert of Geneva as Pope Clement VII at Avignon. For the next forty years (1378-1417) two popes fought for control of the Church.

Europe was sundered by this rivalry, and Bohemia was no exception. While most of the population was loyal to Rome, Avignon's efforts to attract adherents created doubts and uncertainties as to the nature of Christianity, starting a ferment that would result in the birth of the Bohemian religious reform movement. John Huss was the man destined to lead that movement.

Born about 1373, Huss studied at the university of Prague, receiving his Master's degree in theology in 1396, becoming a faculty member and later Rector of the university in 1402. That same year he was appointed to the pulpit of Bethlehem Chapel in Prague where he rapidly became one of the most popular preachers in Bohemia.

Impressed by Wycliff's writings concerning piety and close adherence to the Scriptures, Huss rose to lead the growing Czech reform movement in 1407. Over the following years, Huss' sermons became increasingly hostile to and critical of the avarice and decadence of the clergy and the immorality of the laity.

By 1412, Huss' sermons had incited the Praguers to open demonstrations of dissent. In Apra of that year, Pope John XXIII convened a council in Rome to deal with Wycliff's writings and Huss' teachings. Huss was excommunicated and fled Prague. The Pope then called a General Council at Constance to resolve the Papal Schism. Summoned to appear, Huss was given a safe conduct guarantee by King Sigismund of Hungary. Within three weeks of his arrival at Constance, Huss was imprisoned. Seven months later, on 6 July, 1415, after a short travesty of a trial in which he was not permitted a defense, Huss was burned at the stake.

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