First defenestration of Prague
defenestration
The First defenestration of Prague happened on July 30, 1419. It marks the beginning of the Hussite wars. Jan Hus had been burnt at the stake, at the Council of Constance four years earlier. On July 30, Hussites stormed the Prague town hall, to free other Hussites who had been captured.
At the event, ten people were thrown out of the window: the mayor, two councillors, an aide of the judge, five elders, and a serf. Falling out of the window did not kill them. The crowd used cutting weapons to kill those that had fallen. One councillor died while he was being tortured. Jan Želivský had planned the uprising. In 1960, a statue was put in front of the town hall to commemorate Jan Želivský.