Post-Revolution Recovery

The Hussites aim of ridding the Church from moral decay stemmed down into nearly every aspect of life — including music. Unison folksinging; two- and four-part homophonic hymns; Gregorian chant, and topical, revolutionary, and war songs — all in the vernacular — were the most important hallmarks of the Revolution’s influence.

While the early Hussites preferred simple, less extravagant music, the post-Hussite Czech lands finally adopted Flemish polyphony — primarily vocal polyphony, though many composers wrote anonymously for fear of persecution as a heretic. Latin chant once again regained footing, as well. Undoubtedly, the Hussites allowed Czech music to evolve in many ways, but it also stifled progress by isolating Czech music from greater European trends, the effects of which would last until well into the 16th century.

Politically, Bohemia was in turmoil. Essentially, the Czech lands were divided int two: those loyal to Rome, and those loyal to the Utraquists.With the Compact of Basel in 1436, Hussitism, or Utraquism, was finally an accepted denomination in the Czech lands. Upon the death of Charles IV’s last heir, Sigismund, in 1439, it was Jiří of Poděbrady, a Hussite commander, who became land governor, effectively bestowing kingly duties upon him. The Czech Estates, many of whom were Utraquist sympathizers, formally elected Jiří as king in 1458, effectively ending the Luxembourg Dynasty.

Rome, however, did not accept the terms of the Compact of Basel and deemed the Utraquists heretics. Additionally, Rome deposed Jiří and had him excommunicated in 1466. Shortly after, Jiří’s son-in-law, Mátyás Korvin, saw an opportunity and installed himself as the new face of the anit-Hussite regime and was largely supported in Moravia. In 1469, Moravian Catholics declared him king, as well. Though still in conflict with Rome, the Czech lands now possessed two Bohemian kings.

With Jiří’s death in 1471, the Czech Estates elected Ladislav II, the oldest son of the King of Poland. His coronation birthed yet another dynasty in the Czech Lands: the Jagellon Dynasty.