John Huss
| Jan Hus | |
 | |
| Birth | between 1369 and 1373 Husinec ( South Bohemian ) |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 6 July 1415 (at approx. 45) Constance (Germany) |
| Occupation (s) | priest , rector of Prague University , theologian |
| Training | University of Prague |
Jan Hus or John Huss is a theologian, a scholar and a Czech religious reformer. His excommunication in 1411 , his condemnation by the Church for heresy , and death on the stake in 1415 during the Council of Constance , trigger a process leading to the creation of the Hussite Church and the crusades against the Hussites. The Protestantism sees him as a precursor.
The Czech language owes its diacritic (the hacek ). The Czechs have made him an allegory of their nation against oppression Catholic, Imperial and German: it is a national hero , commemorated on July 6 , the day of his death at the stake by a public holiday.
Summary |
Bohemia and Christianity at the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
On 15 August 1373 , Charles IV for his son gets the Mark Brandenburg , and with it the title of Prince Elector attached to that possession. In 1376 , he obtained the Electors of the election of his son as king of the Romans , the future Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The authority of Charles is sufficient to establish a dynastic succession, hitherto been rare in the elections to the imperial title.
Wenceslaus succeeded his father on 29 November 1378. Under inheritance, Mark Brandenburg went to his younger brother Sigismund , his other brother, John gets the walk Lusatia ; the Moravian going to his cousins Jobst and Procopius.
1378 was the fateful year of the early Great Western Schism , the Church is undergoing a moral crisis, ethical and financial unprecedented. That same year, in terms of Bohemia, John of Jenstein (de) becomes archbishop of Prague and it quickly moves into open conflict with the Emperor and King of Bohemia Wenceslas on the issue of investiture. This conflict leads in 1393 on the killing of John of Nepomuk , too loyal support of the Archbishop of Bohemia, by armed men of the king. The crux of the conflict has been the appointment of the abbot of the rich monastery Kladruby that the king reserved to a protg.
The death of John of Nepomuk leads the stately Union , a Czech noble rebellion, which lasted from 1394 to 1402. Bohemian nobles leagued are imprisoning their king in 1394 and called his cousin Jobst of Moravia , regent of the kingdom. Through the intervention of his brother Sigismund , he was released and returned to the throne (in return, Wenceslas, childless, Sigismund recognized as his heir).
But because of problems in Bohemia, Wenceslas neglects the affairs of the Empire, an angry crowd faces him at the Diet of Nuremberg ( 1397 ) and at the Frankfurt ( 1398 ). He accuses his drinking bouts, especially his incompetence and do nothing to end the Great Schism: it is extremely rare, stripped of his imperial title in August 1400 by the Electors in favor of Robert I Wenceslas which refuses to recognize its legitimacy.
From 1402 to autumn 1403 , Wenceslas finds himself back in jail in Vienna, this time on his decision benjamin, Sigismond, and always with the support of the Czech nobility. It is released by Johann von Liechtenstein , accompanied by an armed gang.
In this context disorder, both political and religious, as Jan Hus preached and taught and studied.
The university
Jan Hus studied at the Prague University where he graduated in 1393 and MA in liberal arts in 1396. In 1400 he was appointed professor at the university, ordered a priest and he began to preach at the church of Saint-Michel. In 1401 , he became dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and a year later, rector of the University of Prague.
A linguist thrifty
In linguistics , in De orthographia bohemica (From the spelling of Czech ), Jan Hus invented spelling using diacritics as suscrit point , which then became hacek to note that the Slavic languages as grammatically consider soft consonants. He advocates the use of focus (instead of repetition of vowels) to note the long vowels. At the time, the paper or parchment is a luxury item and save space when writing is a good economy.
Compare and sch - tsch and.
This diacritic, adopted by the Croatian , the Slovak and Slovene , is perfectly suited to the slave, its grammar, its inflections. Overall, it is in the Latin alphabet, with modifications made by Cyril and Methodius, the Greek when creating the Glagolitic alphabet with which master Hus became familiar to the monastery of Emmaus in Prague, founded on 21 November 1347 , which is then an important center of culture and liturgy in Old Slavonic.
Rector of a university divided
Prague capital of Holy Roman Empire and its university, truly international, is divided into sections (also called "nations") Bavarian , Czech , Saxon and Polish . He wavers between his allegiance to the Church and its ideal wycliffien: the 14 May 1408 , the Czech University of Prague (under the leadership of Hus) publicly rejects the articles of Wyclif, but stresses that, properly interpreted in context These items are not totally heretical. The archbishop of Prague, blandly written to Pope Gregory XII that there is no soul wandering in Bohemia.
Other nations decide to store securely with Gregory XII but Hus uses to defend his ideals, the opposition of King Wenceslas to Gregory XII and graduated in 1409 , the Czech nation had three votes in the decisive votes the university administration, other nations do not benefit only one vote each. This decision, known as Decree of Kutna Hora , causes the departure of German professors who contribute to the founding of the University of Leipzig in May 1409.
The University of Prague loses most of its students and its faculty and declines to become an institution within the national radiation at most. For several decades, no title is distributed. It was not until the Emperor Sigismund and especially Rudolph II, who rebuilt its capital of Prague, to see the university reborn from its ashes.
Theologian
Influenced by the Englishman John Wyclif , he wondered about the practical consequences of obedience to Christ , delivers sermons, especially in the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, against what he called the mistakes of Catholicism and devoted himself to reforming the Church.
He soon finds himself at the head of a national movement for reform and is publicly defending the writings of John Wyclif condemned by a papal bull dated 20 December 1409 which ordered the destruction of works of Wyclif and the prohibition of preaching his doctrine. Jan Hus called the "pope of Pisa" Alexander V , but in vain.
Indulgence
Alexander V died in 1410, John XXIII succeeded him and began, in 1411 , a crusade against King Ladislaus of Naples , the protector of the "Pope of Rome" Gregory XII (Ladislas had invaded Rome and is mostly a partisan Colonna ). This crusade is to be funded and indulgences are a convenient way for the papacy to raise money .
Huss speaks against the "traffic" in his address Quaestio magistri Johannis Hus indulgentiis, almost a carbon copy of the final chapter of the De Ecclesia de Wyclif. The Hussite pamphlet states that no priest, no bishop, no religion can not take the sword in the name of Christ they should pray for the enemies of Christ and bless those who fight it. The repentance of man is through humility, not money or weapons or power. Remarkable speaker, it causes a riot of the people of Prague which was harshly repressed. On 24 June 1412 , a procession of students led by the disciple of Hus, Jerome of Prague , going to pillory the papal bull and then burned. Three students, who interrupted a priest while he preached the purchase of indulgences, are executed with the ax.
The doctors of the theological faculty meet against Hus.
Excommunication
Critics of Jan Hus, unable to rely on social or Patriots will seek to achieve through his religious views. They will initially be based on his admiration for the pseudo-theological approach Wyclif to accuse him of heresy.
Excommunicated on 21 February 1411 by Gregory XII , Hus appealed the trial of Christ, the unknown instance canon law. It does not limit only to church authorities and still maintained its diatribes by Prague. Hus between that year, in conflict with the King of Bohemia Wenceslas IV , which authorized the papal envoys to sell indulgences to organize a crusade against the King of Naples. He became persona non grata in Prague. Prague support will lead to events during which three "disciples" will be performed in public which will draw together the people against the king and the church. Jan Hus retired to Castle Koz Hradek , in southern Bohemia, in order to write his book De ecclesia and Explanation of the Holy Gospels ( 1413 ).
The Council of Constance
Just the Council of Constance , whose anti-pope John XXIII signed the notice. Sigismund, wanting to give the appearance of support Hus agrees to accompany him to Constance (see picture to give to Prague). In practice it will not accompany Hus. Huss went, with a safe-conduct signed by Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor in order to defend his thesis. This will be denied safe conduct by Sigismund.
Arrival in Constance and beginnings of the Council
At Constance, rushed in full regalia, representatives of the major Catholic nations, all prelates and princes account Christendom , including Orthodox, Lithuanian, Copts. The first goal of the Council, meeting under pressure from Sigismund, is not to judge, but to end this scandal of the Great Western Schism. Three "popes" are competing for the throne of St. Peter , Gregory XII , pope of Rome, John XXIII , pope of Pisa "and Benedict XIII , " the pope of Avignon. "
Hus share the 11 October 1414 and arrived on 3 November 1414 in Constance. The next day, a bulletin on the church doors to announce that Michal Nemecky Brod will be the opponent of Hus "heretic." It is first free to move but for fear of seeing him escape, 8 December 1414 , he was locked up in a Dominican monastery in the city. The imperial safe-conduct, apparently, does not apply (or more) legally heretics ... Shortly before the 4 December 1414 , John XXIII appointed three bishops to initiate investigations against Hus.
Under imperial pressure, the voting system is changed: not one vote for Cardinal (which benefits greatly Italy) but one vote per nation (which provides a unique solution to national problems then plaguing the church). On 20 March 1415 , realizing that he loses the support imperial John XXIII fled. On 6 April 1415 , the council adopted the decree Haec sancta, asserting the superiority of council over the pope. Institutional issues in the process of being resolved, the trial of Hus can resume.
The trial of Jan Hus
Foremost among the critics of Jan Hus, in addition to Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly and his disciple John Gerson , christianissimus doctor and chancellor of the University of Paris, are the great inquisitors , aided by the most brilliant Roman canonists. Judges conducting interviews ex cathedra, Huss has too rarely speak, still he manages to unseat his accusers. Gradually, the debates though very confused, turning to the advantage of the reformer. In prison, after weeks of repeated questioning, Jan Hus did not weaken the will and speak as the first Protestants later: "God and my conscience is my only witness, I never preached or taught things that witnesses invoke against me. " Condemned as a heretic to be burned alive, he exclaims: "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive all my enemies." Censorship will screen his last letters, written from his cell, his friends in Prague.
The Bonfire
On 6 July 1415 , according to the ruling, Jan Hus must be "reduced to the lay state": the public executioner snatched the clothes. Wearing a miter of cardboard on which are painted devils, he is taken to the woodshed in a crowd torn between anger and delusion: it is related to the post, surrounded by wet straw and firewood and the fire is put at stake. While rising flames, Hus would have sung: "Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me." It is said that at the sight of a person bringing a bundle of wood for the fire, he said aloud: "O sancta simplicity" in French "holy simplicity" to describe people who were doing that they are told without thinking and yet thinking to do well.
Finally, the height of the martyr, the assistant executioner cut his bones burned to dust we will throw in the waters of the Rhine as in the opinion: "Jan Hus, nothing should remain." His friend Jerome of Prague , who had come to support him, exclaim: "We could burn it, but it does not burn the truth." Alas, he will suffer the same fate on 30 May 1416.
Hussite Wars
By September 1415 , the diet of the lords of Bohemia sent an indignant protest on the decision of the council. The people revere Hus as a martyr and a saint.
The "new faith" and the feeling of nationality in the Czech merge Emblem chalice (symbol of communion under both species, sub specie utraquist) behind which the Czechs resist Rome and the Holy Roman Emperor. Meanwhile, after the execution of Hus conciliar fathers intend for the Czechs "rebels", the same fate as the Albigensian that is to say the extermination . All the nobility and the Czech people rebelled and Sigismund (after the death of his brother Wenceslas ) is forced to take a stand. The four articles of Prague (the principle of real reform / Early Christianity) become an excuse to abuse and lead to clashes within the Hussite camp.
The crusades against the Hussites , the first magnitude event in European history, begins. A rebellious people will organize themselves militarily to stand up to 25 years in European armed coalition:
- Defenestration of Prague Catholic notables (1419).
- January Zclivsky preaches revolt small and stormed the town hall of Prague. The city fathers are thrown through windows. This will be the starting point of an insurgency 18 years and 5 crusades that Europe will send the call of Pope Martin V and Sigismund; crusades which the Czechs resist.
- Battle of Mount Tabor (South Bohemia), victory of Kutna Hora (1422).
- Course by fanatics of Bohemia, half of Germany and Hungary who sow terror.
- Growing antagonism between Czechs and Germans (the latter being in the papal camp).
Their elected leaders, Jan Zizka (who stand in Prague), then his death, the priest Prokop The Bald lead to major battles in Germany, Austria-Hungary and crushed the Crusaders Tachov (1427) then Domalice (1431). The military and technical superiority of an army of volunteers and the successive defeats of the Crusades will require the church for the first time in its history to agree to deal with "heresy."
The Council of Basel (1443) will have to consider accepting the arrangements of the official doctrine of the church facing the four articles of Prague. This was denied Hus was therefore agreed to Procopius, namely free expression in Czech, and communion under both species. The Bishop of Tbor explained the four items and recalled that no religious authority has the right to take life, let alone Christians. For the rest the talks dragged on, the fighting resumed and Procopius was crushed Lipany in May 1434 marking the defeat of Taborites paving the way to the throne at a moderate Hussite, George of Podebrady. After these battles the church gave few further concessions to the Czech Hussites (agreement Jihlava 1436).
Consequences of the Hussite Wars
The Hussite wars cause significant damage because the ecclesial level, next to a unified church of Rome, cohabiting a new church after the Hussite doctrines (Calixtines church) which was run by secular priests called and payments. Later "the unity of brethren separated from the utraquist characteristic of moderate, to remain more faithful to the principles of Hus.
Insofar Hus was a precursor of the reform (many concepts will be taken over by Luther ), the Lutheran Reformation found fertile ground among the Czechs, or nearly 2 / 3, which recognize the confession of 1575 inspired by that of Augsburg. The repression that followed the disaster of the White Mountain (November 1620) where the Czechs were crushed by the troops of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor permanently destroys the current Hussite.
The legacy of Jan Hus
His followers consider him a patriot and a martyr of the Czech nation and the Christian faith. Precursor of the Reformation , his death triggered a veritable revolution in religious, political and social shakes Bohemia and Moravia for decades. Beyond faith and religious practice, one can not ignore a few "side effects" of a political nature: the Czech national identity and the desire for liberation from German control. These effects appear fully in connection with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
References
- Note the balance between the German and Slavic nations.
- Probably brought to Bohemia by Jerome of Prague , which we know he had a copy during his stay at Oxford.
- King Wenceslaus was deposed in 1400 , the imperial dignity - his appeal to Pope to invalidate the decision of the prince-electors, remained without effect.
- At the time, as noted in Article Great Schism of the West , with three popes in title, three parallel administrations that should be funded, the "voice" and supports it agrees to purchase.
- This also would suit well the German nobility who could win back lost territory and power!
Notes
Bibliography
- Amedeo Molnar, John Hus. Witness to the truth, Paris, Shepherds and Magi, 1978. ( ISBN 2853040518 )
- Jean Boulier , Jean Huss, Brussels, Editions Complexe, 1958
- Jean Puyo, Jan Hus, Ed Time and Faces
- Richard Friedenthal, Jan Huss, a heretic and rebel, Calmann-Levy, 1977
- Frantiek Smahel, Hussite Revolution, a historical anomaly, Puf, 1985
- Daniel S. Larang, The Word of God in Bohemia and Moravia. The tradition of Jan Hus preached to Jan Amos Comenius, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2008.
Internal Links
- Hussite church
- Socinianism (for region)
- Protestantism
- Anabaptism , radical reform
- Crusades against the Hussites
- Moravians
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