Siege of Pilsen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Pilsen
Part of the Bohemian Revolt (Thirty Years' War)
The siege of Pilsen by Matthäus Merian
Date 19 September - 21 November 1618 (2 months and 2 days) Location Pilsen, Bohemia Result Protestant victory
Belligerents
Protestant Bohemia Electoral Palatinate	Bohemian Catholics
Commanders and leaders
Ernst von Mansfeld	Felix Dornheim
Strength
20,000	4,000 Burghers 158 cavalry
Casualties and losses
1,100	2,500

The Siege of Pilsen was a big battle that happened in 1618. It was the first major fight of the Thirty Years' War. This war was a huge conflict that affected much of Europe. The siege took place in the city of Pilsen in Bohemia. Ernst von Mansfeld led the Protestant forces. They won the battle and took control of the city. This victory helped the Bohemian Revolt grow stronger.

Why the Battle Happened

On May 23, 1618, something big happened in Prague. Protestant nobles were unhappy with King Ferdinand II. They threw his Catholic governors out of a window at Prague Castle. This event is known as the Defenestration of Prague.

After this, the Protestant nobles formed a new government. They chose Ernst von Mansfeld to lead their army. Many Catholic nobles and priests started to leave the country. They went to Pilsen, thinking it would be a safe place. They hoped to organize a strong defense there.

Pilsen was a well-fortified city. It was ready for a long siege. However, there were not enough defenders. They also did not have much gunpowder for their cannons. Mansfeld decided to attack Pilsen quickly. He wanted to capture it before the Catholics could get help.

The Siege Begins

Frederick V of Bohemia, painted in 1634.

Mansfeld's army arrived near Pilsen on September 19, 1618. The city defenders quickly blocked two of the city gates. They put extra guards at the third gate. Mansfeld's army was not strong enough to attack the castle directly. So, he decided to try and starve the city out.

On October 2, the Protestant cannons arrived. But the cannons were small and few. Their shots did not do much damage to the city walls. The siege continued for many weeks. The Protestants kept getting new supplies and soldiers. Meanwhile, the people inside Pilsen ran out of food and ammunition. Their main water well was also destroyed. Soon, they had very little drinking water left.

Taking the City

Finally, on November 21, the Protestant army found weak spots in the city walls. They made cracks in the walls. Then, their soldiers rushed into the city. There was fierce hand-to-hand fighting for several hours. In the end, Mansfeld's army took control of the entire town.

What Happened Next

After capturing Pilsen, Mansfeld demanded a lot of money. He asked for 120,000 golden guldens as payment for the war. He also wanted another 47,000 florins to spare the city from being burned down.

However, the Holy Roman Empire, led by Bavaria, soon gathered a large army. They crossed into Bohemia and headed towards Pilsen and Prague. The new Bohemian king was Frederick V of the Palatinate. He knew his enemies had a much bigger army. He ordered his own army to regroup. He wanted them to attack each enemy army separately.

But most of his allies left him. His armies scattered in the thick forests between Pilsen and Prague. This led to a major defeat for the Protestants. It happened at the Battle of White Mountain.