ZISKA,* or ZIZXA, JOHN, of Trocznov, the famous leader of the Hussites, was b. at Trocznov, in the circle of Budweis, Bohemia. about 1360. His family being noble, he became a page to king Wenceslas of Bohemia, but his gloomy and thoughtful tempera ment unfitted him, while yet a mere boy, for the frivolous occupations about court ; so, embracing the career of arms, lie served as a volunteer in the English army in France, and afterward joined king Ladislas of Poland with a body of Bohemian and Moravian auxiliaries, and greatly distinguished himself in the war against the Teutonic knights, deciding the dreadful battle of Tannenberg (in which the grand master and 40,000 knights were left dead on the field) by desperate charges at the head of his contingent. High honors were heaped upon him by the king; but the war (in which Ziska had lost his right eye) being now over, his restless spirit led him to join the Austrians against the Turks, and subsequently the English against the French; and returning to Bohemia soon after the murder of John Huss (q.v.), lie became chamberlain to king Wenceslas. Ziska was an adherent of the Hussite doctrine; and the tragical fate of its apostles, and the tyrannical cruelties exercised by the imperial and papal officers on its adherents, excited in his mind the liveliest indignation and resentment. A widespread sentiment of a similar kind, originating as much from patriotic as from religious feelings, existed in the kingdom; and a powerful party was soon formed, which urged upon the king a policy of resistance to the decisions of the council of Constance. Ziska soon became prominent, among the leaders of this party, and his personal influence with the king gained for it the latter's sanction to offer resistance, though the king's vacillating dispo sition incapacitated him from giving effect to his own honest convictions and taking open part with his subjects against their oppressors. After the outbreak at Prague (July 30, 1419), in which the violent behavior of_ the Catholics was avenged by the pre cipitation of 13 magistrates from the council windows, Ziska was unanimously chosen leader of the Hussites, and the first great religious conflict Of Germany was commenced in earnest. The shock produced by news of this outbreak was fatal to Weuceslas, and his death gave more of a political character to the contest, as when his brother, the emperor Sigismund (the same who had allowed his safe-conduct to Huss to. be violated), attempted by advancing an army of 40,000 men into the country to obtain the throne, his project was frustrated for a time by .the Hussites, who insisted on their religious and political liberties being secured, and totally defeated his army with a hastily levied force of not more than 4,000. On the retirement of the imperialists, Ziska completed his conquest of Bohemia by the capture of the castle of Prague in 1421 (the town had been taken in the spring of 1420), and secured his hold of the country by the erection of fortresses, chief of which was that of Tabor, whence his party derived its name of Taborites (q.v.). The
varied experience acquired by Ziska in foreign warfare was now of immense service to his party: his followers were armed with small fire-arms (then little known); and his almost total deficiency in cavalry was compensated for by the introduction of the wagenburg (or "cart-fort," constructed of the baggage-wagons), to protect his little army from the charges of the mail-clad knights. numerous other inventions and ingenious contriv ances mark Ziska's brief career as leader of the Hussites, and show his eminent qualities as an engineer and a general. In 1421, he lost his remaining eye at the siege of the castle of Rabi; but though now totally blind, he continued to lead on his troops to a succession of victories almost unexampled in history—the list of 13 pitched battles fought by him, always with much inferior force, includin7 only one defeat, and that so much resembling a drawn battle, that his opponents dared not molest his retreat. His greatest achievements were the rout (Jan. 18, 1422) of Sigismund's second invading army, which was driven into Moravia, and 2,000 men of it drowned in attempting to escape across the frozen Iglau: and his great victory at Anssig, over the German crusading army, commanded by Frederick the warlike of Saxony, and the elector of Branden burg. In the latter conflict, the furious onset of Ziska's troops was steadily sustained by the Saxons, who were choice troops, and the fanatic Hussites recoiled in astonish ment at a successful resistance which they had never before encountered. Ziska, apprised of the circumstances, approached on his cart, thadked his men for their past services, adding, " and if you have now done your utmost, let us retire." Thus stinm lated, they made a second charge still more furiuus than before, broke the Saxon array, and left 0.000 of it dead on the field. Sigismund was now convinced that the conquest of Bohemia was impossible, and after a time proposed an arrangement with the Bus sites, by which full religious liberty was allowed; and Ziska, who had an interview with the emperor on the footing of an independent chief. was to be appointed governor of Bohemia and her dependencies. But the war-worn old chief did not live long enough to complete the treaty, for, while besieging the castle of Przihislay, be was seized with the plague, and died Oct. 12, 1424. He was buried in a church at Czaslav, and his iron war-club was hung up over his tomb. A foolish story was long current that, in accord ance with Ziska's express injunctions. his skin was flayed off, tanned, and used as a cover for a drum, which was afterward employed in the Hussite army; in order that even when dead he might be a terror to his enemies.
The only accusation which can with justice be made against Ziska is on the ground of excessive cruelty, the victims being the monks and priests who fell into his hands. But atrocious cruelties were practiced on the Hussites, and it was not to be expected that the weaker party should set an example of moderation..