Abstract
The paper undertakes an analysis of the Old Czech and Middle High German versions of the petition that was sent to Sigismund of Luxemburg from Bohemia in 1419. The circumstances surrounding the composition of the petition are examined.The paper undertakes an analysis of the Old Czech and Middle High German versions of the petition that was sent to Sigismund of Luxemburg from Bohemia in 1419. The circumstances surrounding the composition of the petition are examined. The author has arrived to the conclusion that the petition has been written on the initiative of the land consuls of Bohemia who represented the Bohemian nobility. The goal of the petition was to protect the public order in the kingdom with the help of Sigismund’s influence who has been proclaimed as the «new king». As local authorities the land consuls aimed to prevent religious clashes between the Utraquists and those who sticked to the traditional Catholic rite of Communion. For this purpose they threatened to expel from the country those Catholics who called Utraquism a heresy, as well as those Utraquists who «have sworn an oath against those who call them Wyckleffits and Hussites». The Prague communities joined the land consuls in composing the petition first after the revolt of Prague against the Queen Dowager Sophie had been suppressed by the league of Catholic and Utraquist nobles. However, not every request added by the Prague Hussites has been included in the final German version received by Sigismund.