The religious fundamentalism and the old-testament topoi in the ideology of the Hussite wars (the siege of Chomutov in 1421)

The paper examines the siege of Chomutov undertaken by the Prague Hussites and Taborites in 1421. Three the most detailed testimonies deriving from the 15^th century are analysed, i. e. the «Hussite Chronicle» of Lorence of Březová, the anonymous «Chronicle of the old Prague Collegiate» and the narration «About the defense of the town Most against the Hussites in 1421» composed by Johann Leonis. It has been shown in the paper that the Hussites did follow the instructions and prophecies of the Old Testament. According to the Book of Deuteronomy (20:10– 15) they did murder the whole male population of Chomutov which had undertaken a military resistance. The Prophecy of Jeremia about the Babylon (51:58) was applied by them to the Jews whom they considered to be pagans. The Hussites did kill the sons and daughters of the town following the Prophecy of Ezechiel about harlot Ooliba who had been associated with the town of Jerusalem by the prophet. Author has come to the conclusion that the Old Testament was considered by the besiegers as the handbook of warfare. Thus, the Prague Hussites and Taborites did show themselves as the ultimate Christian fundamentalists and social archaists, inasmuch as their Hussite insight as well as the old Hebraic insight did not make any distinction between religion and politics: the Hussite politics became the continuation of the religion, thus being realised uncompromisingly and cruelly.