Battle of Lomnice facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Lomnice
Part of the Thirty Years' War
Jindřich Matyáš Thurn
Date 9 November 1618 Location Lomnice nad Lužnicí (present-day Czech Republic) Result Bohemian victory
Belligerents
Bohemia	Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jindřich Thurn	Count of Bucquoy
Strength
About 14,000	Less than 10,000
Casualties and losses
80 dead and 120 wounded	About 1,500 dead, wounded, or missing

The Battle of Lomnice was an important fight during the Thirty Years' War. It happened on November 9, 1618, near a town called Lomnice nad Lužnicí in what is now the Czech Republic. This battle was between the Protestant army of Bohemia, led by Jindřich Matyáš Thurn, and the Catholic army of the Habsburg Empire, led by Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Count of Bucquoy. The Bohemian Protestants won this battle.

What Started the War?

The Thirty Years' War was a long and terrible conflict in Europe. It involved many countries and was often about religion. People who were Protestant fought against those who were Catholic.

The Defenestration of Prague

A big event that helped start the war happened on May 23, 1618. In Prague, the capital of Bohemia, some Protestant nobles were very unhappy. They disagreed with their Catholic king, King Ferdinand. He was also set to become the Holy Roman Emperor.

As a protest, these nobles threw two of the king's Catholic governors out of a window at Prague Castle. This event is known as the Defenestration of Prague. After this, the Protestant nobles, including Jindřich Thurn, took charge of the Bohemian Protestant forces.

The Armies Prepare for Battle

The Habsburg Catholic army, led by Count Bucquoy, started moving towards Prague. But the Protestant army stopped them for several weeks near a place called Čáslav. Bucquoy's army then faced problems. They ran out of food and many soldiers got sick. This forced Count Bucquoy to pull his army back.

Thurn Chases Bucquoy

As Bucquoy's army was retreating, Count Thurn and his Protestant forces followed them. Thurn wanted to force a battle. He caught up with Bucquoy's army near the village of Lomnice nad Lužnicí in southern Bohemia.

The Battle of Lomnice

The two armies met on November 9, 1618. Part of the Catholic army took a strong position between two ponds. However, this made them an easy target for the Protestant artillery. The Protestant cannons fired many shots, causing a lot of damage.

The Outcome

Count Bucquoy's army suffered a big defeat. They lost at least 1,500 soldiers who were either killed, wounded, or went missing. This loss forced the main part of the Habsburg army to leave Bohemia.

The Protestants had won an important victory. However, they did not continue to chase the defeated Catholic army. This meant they missed a chance to completely crush their opponents.