Memorial plaque with names of those executed at the Old Town Hall
The execution of the 27 leaders of the Bohemian Estates Uprising began on 21 June 1621 in Prague on the Old Town Square. The executioner was an utraquist, so they could pray before the execution.
Joachim Andreas von Schlick was beheaded first. This was followed by the execution of Jan Jesenius, whose tongue was cut out first, then he was beheaded.[2] His body was quartered and the parts impaled on stakes. Jan Jesenius was punished most severely for several reasons: firstly, he persuaded Hungary to break with the emperor and secondly, he wrote a political-philosophical treatise Pro vindiciis contra tyrannos (en: Can a tyrant be overthrown by people?). Others were beheaded by the sword; some of them had their right hands cut off first. The members of the Unity of the Brethren were hanged, which was the most disgraceful death for them.
Headless bodies were handed over to the families, who buried them. Twelve heads were put into iron baskets and attached by the executioner to the Old Town Bridge Tower.[2] The heads hung there until the invasion of the Saxon army took place here in 1631.
City clerk Mikuláš Diviš was nailed to the gallows by the tongue for one hour for welcoming Frederick V of the Palatinate on his arrival to Prague. Some nobles involved in the uprising escaped into exile, such as Jindřich Matyáš Thurn. Martin Fruwein z Podolí (cs, de) was also expected to be executed, but he committed suicide by jumping from the White Tower of Prague Castle.
27 tributary crosses in the place of execution at the Old Town Square
Execution was only one of the consequences of the Bohemian Revolt, which failed. Other consequences were the possession of the Bohemian royal crown in the hands of the Habsburgs (now hereditary), which meant another nearly 300 years of their domination. Another major consequence was the subsequent re-Catholization, and since 75-90% of Bohemians were Protestant, it meant a great emigrant wave (which was the majority of Bohemian intelligence). The German language was made fully equal to the Czech language, so Germanization of the entire population (not only the nobility) was also carried out.
The executioner's sword, on whose blade the names of eleven executed are engraved, is in the collections of Hus House (Husův dům) in Prague. However, it is likely that it is a fake sword, as in the list on the blade is engraved the name of Jan Kutnauer, who was actually hanged.
At that time there was a struggle for balance in Europe, Europe was divided into Catholic and Protestant, absolutist and estates monarchy. The uprising itself triggered a conflict to which the powers were already heading. Execution in the Old Town Square celebrated for the Spanish-Catholic party the triumph of victory.
Media related to Execution on the Old Town Square 1621 at Wikimedia Commons
