PROCOPIUS, Andrew, Hussite chief : b. about 1380; d. Biihmisch-Brod, 30 May 1434. He was distinguished as Procopius the Great, or the Bald, from as contemporary at times associated with him known as Procopius the Lesser or Prokupek. He received a good edu cation, traveled extensively and upon his return entered the priesthood, receiving the tonsure from which was derived his nickname, the Bald. He fought with the Hussites under Ziska, and in 1425 after Ziska's death was chosen commander of the Taborites, the main division of the Hussites, and quickly made him self master of a larger part of Bohemia. De feating the German troops at Aussig in June 1426, he burned that town and soon after drove the Austrians across the Danube. Burning and laying waste large portions of Austria he led his bands toward Silesia; defeated a Ger man army near Mies (1427) ; and in the next two years ravaged Silesa, Hungary and Saxony.
The bands under the leadership of Procopius had by this time made the name of Hussites a terror throughout the provinces through which they pursued the armies of the Emperor Sigismund. Strife, however, ensued between the extremists, and the more moderate division known as the Calixtines, who in 1433 accepted the terms offered by the Roman Catholics. In a factional fight between the two parties Pro copius was killed. In the same battle perished Procopius the Lesser, leader of a section of the Hussites called the Orphans, which had co-operated with the Taborites since 1427. Consult Sand, Georges,