History of Brittany Explaned

Bretons... If anyone does not know, that people belongs to the Celts. At first glance the people inhabited in the British Isles, but they were pressed by the Angles and Saxons there. In the period of the great migration German people migrated massively where one's feet would take one, and one of these places were the British Isles. It is why the unlucky delegation of the Celtic population had to move across the Channel to the mainland. There fellows occupied vast territories along the strait. The next wave of migration to the continent occurred in the 9th century and the fellows were already the baptized Brits. That time laid a legend of several Celtic saints. After the borders of feudal Europe began to be drawn in the Middle Ages, Brittany became divided into some kingdoms: Domnonee, Cornouai, and Bro Waroc'h. Two former were named after the territories, from where the people inhabiting this lands came, and the third was named in honor of one stern fellow, a leader of the Bretons that time.

These some provinces were subsequently united into the Duchy of Brittany. This duchy was located near the Norman duchy, so during the Norman conquest of England, the Bretons took a direct part in the campaign of William the Conqueror. And after the conquest, many of the Bretons received bonuses and presents in the form of rich land allotments and every sorts of titles. In 1166, the Duchy of Brittany became the issue of a dispute among some great powers such as England and Kingdom of France, and shortly after lost its sovereignty. In the 14th century, the Duchy of Brittany regained its sovereignty, but still attracted great interest from outside its borders.

Anna of Brittany, who received her post of duchess in 1488, became the last ruler of the independent Brittany. Despite the peace agreement, signed by the ruler of England Henry VII and German emperor Maximilian I to aid the duchy, the French king Charles VIII forced Anna to marry him, taking all the land of Brittany. After his sudden death, Anna quickly proclaimed the sovereignty of the duchy, but shortly after was forced to marry the next French ruler, Louis XII. After her death, provoked by kidney stones, her heart was transferred to the chapel of Nantes, and the duchy lost all hope of regaining the sovereignty.

The Victory of Excitement

One of the most interesting pages in history of Czech Republic is Hussite wars. For me it's curious that little army of Czech rebels could resist a huge alliance of Holy Roman Emperor and his vassals, especially they archived the impressive success at Vitkov Hill, near Prague.

Hussite wars has religious reason. Bohemia, the name of about of half modern territory of Czech Republic, was mostly Protestant country, as well as some of northern states in Germany. Some years before these events one of the most notable persons went to the European stage. His name was Jan Hus. He tried to reform Catholic church, which had many internal problems. To solve economic problems papacy solt indulgences, which could devalue buyer's sins, even if he had not done any sin yet. So everyone could buy indulgence in advance. Three Popes tried to rule the Western church simultaneously, while one of them was former pirate. To restore the order Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund gathered the Council of Constance. During the discusses the Emperor decided to invite to Hus to talk to him. But it was a trap. Hus was seized and burned at a stake.

This events excited the Czechs to decisive actions. They threw the judge and burgomaster, who were catholic, out of the window of the New Town Hall, which became known as Defenestration of Prague. It is purely Czech term, and they made Defenestration twice. The second happened in two centuries, triggering the Thirty Years' War in Europe. Surprisingly, this home guard managed to resist the forces, gathered by Sigismund. Actually the most of engagements happened near Prague. Empire attempted to beat Hussites in five crusaded, but only due to internal dissension among Hussites the final crusade was successful. But the Czechs took some advantages from treaty with emperor. In hundred years the Reformation stated in Europe, and the face of Christianity changed for ever.