George of Poděbrady

George of Poděbrady
Jiří of Poděbrady depicted in a codex from 1607
King of Bohemia
Reign	1458–1471
Coronation	2 March 1458, Prague
Predecessor	Ladislaus I Posthumus
Successor	Vladislaus II
Born	(1420-04-23)23 April 1420 probably at Poděbrady Castle
Died	22 March 1471(1471-03-22) (aged 50) Prague
Spouse	Kunigunde of Sternberg Johana of Rožmitál
House	Poděbrady
Father	Victor of Munsterberg
Mother	Anna of Wartenberg

George of Kunštát and Poděbrady (23 April 1420 – 22 March 1471), also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad (Czech: Jiří z Poděbrad; German: Georg von Podiebrad), was King of Bohemia (1458–1471). He was leader of the Hussites. He is known for his idea and attempt to establish common European institutions. It is seen as the first historical vision of European unity.

Jiří was the son of Victor of Munsterberg, a Bohemian nobleman, one of the leaders of the Utraquists, the more moderate faction of the Hussites during the Hussite Wars. At the age of fourteen, George himself took part in the Battle of Lipany, which marked the downfall of the more radical Taborites.

Early in life, as one of the leaders of the Hussite party, he defeated the Austrian troops of the King Albert II, who had succeeded King Sigismund as King of Bohemia, Germany and Hungary. Jiří soon became a prominent member of the Hussite party, and after the death of Hynek Ptáček of Pirkstein, its leader.

King Albert was succeeded by his posthumously born son Ladislaus, during whose reign Bohemia was divided into two parties: the party faithful to Rome, led by Oldřich of Rosenberg (1403–1462), and the Hussite party, led by Jiří.

After various attempts at reconciliation, George sought a military decision. He gradually raised an armed force in north-eastern Bohemia, where the Hussites were strong and where his ancestral castle Litice was situated. In 1448, he marched this army, about 9000 strong, from Kutná Hora to Prague, and obtained possession of the capital almost without resistance.