Fragmented Faith: Group Imagination in the Early Hussite Period (1414-1420)

This paper explores group identity formation among three key factions in Bohemia during the early Hussite period from 1414-1420: Catholics, Prague Hussites, and Taborites. Following the execution of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance in 1415, these groups developed distinct narratives about themselves and their opponents through primary source materials. Catholics positioned themselves as the true inheritors of church tradition, portraying Hussites as heretics and agents of Satan. They emphasized their religious authority and sought to expel Hussites from Christian fellowship. Imperial authorities like Sigismund reinforced this narrative by supporting Catholic perspectives. Prague Hussites, analyzed primarily through Laurence of Březová's chronicle, developed a more moderate approach. They appealed to the original apostolic church while simultaneously emphasizing Czech identity against German Catholic opponents. They critiqued Catholic clergy's corruption while maintaining a more compromising stance toward existing social structures. Taborites represented the most radical faction, focusing on communitarian ideals and apocalyptic theology. They emphasized economic equality, worker solidarity, and an imminent divine intervention that would overthrow existing power structures. Their rhetoric centered on preparing for an expected eschaton where God would directly establish a new kingdom. Each group employed similar rhetorical strategies, particularly characterizing opponents as satanic or heretical while positioning themselves as true followers of divine will. Group identities were constructed through complex negotiations of religious doctrine, social status, and cultural distinctions. By analyzing primary sources as objects of investigation rather than simply historical records, the study reveals the dynamic processes of group imagination and boundary-making in medieval religious movements.