Second defenestration of Prague facts for kids

The Second Defenestration of Prague was a very important event that happened on May 23, 1618, in Prague Castle. It's called a "defenestration" because it means throwing someone out of a window! This event involved three men – Jaroslav Bořita of Martinice, Vilém Slavata of Chlum, and Filip Fabricius – who were thrown from a window. This dramatic moment marked the beginning of a huge conflict known as the Thirty Years' War and changed the course of European history.

What Was the Prague Defenestration?

The word "defenestration" comes from Latin and simply means "out of the window." So, the Second Defenestration of Prague was literally an act where people were thrown out of a window. This wasn't just a random act; it was a strong protest by a group of people in Bohemia (which is now part of the Czech Republic) against their rulers.

Why Did It Happen?

Before 1618, there was a lot of tension in Bohemia. The people of Bohemia were mostly Protestant, but their ruler, Ferdinand II, was a strong Catholic. Ferdinand wanted everyone in his lands to be Catholic, and he started to limit the rights of Protestants. This made many Bohemian nobles and citizens very angry.

Religious Differences

For many years, Protestants in Bohemia had been allowed to practice their religion freely. This was thanks to a special agreement called the "Letter of Majesty," signed by a previous emperor. However, Ferdinand II began to ignore this agreement. He stopped Protestants from building churches and even took away some of their lands.

Political Power Struggle

The conflict wasn't just about religion. It was also about who had the power. The Bohemian nobles wanted to keep their traditional rights and have more say in how their country was run. Ferdinand, on the other hand, wanted to have more control and make his rule stronger. These disagreements led to a lot of anger and frustration among the Bohemian people.

The Event Itself

On May 23, 1618, a group of angry Protestant nobles marched to Prague Castle. They went to a meeting with three Catholic officials who represented Emperor Ferdinand II. These officials were Jaroslav Bořita of Martinice, Vilém Slavata of Chlum, and their secretary, Filip Fabricius.

The Confrontation

The Protestant nobles accused the Catholic officials of breaking the "Letter of Majesty" and taking away their religious freedoms. The discussion quickly became very heated. The Protestants believed these officials were responsible for the Emperor's harsh policies against them.

The Throwing

After a very tense argument, the Protestant nobles decided to take extreme action. They grabbed the three officials and threw them out of a high window in the castle. The window was about 15 meters (50 feet) above the ground. Surprisingly, all three men survived the fall! They landed in a pile of soft manure (animal waste) in the castle moat, which cushioned their landing. They quickly ran away to safety.

What Happened Next?

Even though the officials survived, the act of throwing them out of the window was a huge insult to the Emperor. It was a clear sign that the Bohemian Protestants would not accept his rule anymore. This event immediately sparked the Bohemian Revolt.

The Start of a Big War

The Bohemian Revolt quickly grew into a much larger conflict known as the Thirty Years' War. This war involved many countries across Europe, including France, Sweden, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. It was one of the longest and most destructive wars in European history, causing massive changes to the map and power balance of the continent.

A Turning Point

The Second Defenestration of Prague is often seen as the moment the Thirty Years' War officially began. It showed that the religious and political tensions in Europe had reached a breaking point. The war that followed had a lasting impact on religion, politics, and society in Europe for centuries to come.