John Jiskra

Jan Jiskra z Brandýsa (German: Johann Giskra von Brandeis; Hungarian: Jiskra János; c. 1400 – c. 1469), in English sometimes referred as John Giskra, was a Czech strategist and mercenary soldier.

Jan Jiskra came from the Moravian branch of the noble family Páni z Brandýsa (Lords of Brandýs), he was possibly a son of Alšík z Brandýsa.

Jiskra spent his youth in Bohemia and partially also in Italy, where he – according to several sources – attended the battles of the Republic of Venice. In the Czech lands he became familiar with Hussite war strategies. Following the Battle of Lipany Jiskra, together with other Hussite soldiers, joined the army of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg and fought with Turkish troops in the region of Belgrade.

In his young age he was soldiering in several European countries, including Italy. He ended up in Hungary in the service of Sigismund of Luxemburg, King of Hungary and he continued to serve Sigismund's successor Albert II of Germany.

King Albert's widow, Elizabeth of Luxembourg after the coronation of his son, Ladislaus the Posthumous at Székesfehérvár went to Győr in May 1440 and summoned Jiskra and his Czech mercenaries there as well. From there Jiskra accompanied the King, his mother and the Holy Crown of Hungary to Pozsony (Bratislava). After this Jiskra, who was bestowed upon by the queen dowager with the High Captaincy of the mining towns of Upper Hungary and Kassa (Košice) as well as Zólyom Castle (Pustý hrad) remained a supporter of the young Ladislaus V against King Władysław III of Poland and the estates of Hungary.

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