1. Defenestration of Prague By: Catherine Mansfield

2. Did You Know… Defenestration= the throwing of a person or thing out a window This was actually the second defenestration of Prague, after the first in 1419, when the Hussites threw seven members of the Czech Town Council out of Prague's New Town Hall window. “Defenestration” in Latin is “from the window”

3. Background During the reigns of Rudolf II (ruled 1576-1612) and Matthias (ruled 1612- 1619), the Bohemian aristocracy had extracted rights to Protestant worship and instruction, most notably the Letter of Majesty of 1609.

4. Background Cont. But when subjects of the archbishop of Prague built a Protestant church at Klostergrab and others a church at Braunau, the archbishop ordered these churches closed. King Matthias brought this crisis to a head by confirming the archbishop's order. In March 1618 a Protestant assembly protested the emperor's actions in stacking his council with firm Catholics, but their protest was rejected. The Bohemian Estates, heavily Protestant and zealously protective of their rights to representation were greatly angered http://timelines.com/photos/4c2972feddec3bad103928962442169d

5. Defenestration of Prague Second Defenestration of Prague On May 23, 1618, two vice-regents of the Austrian monarch and some governors of the Czech lands were thrown out of a tower window at Prague Castle. They were not killed, however. They fell onto a pile of garbage (mostly straw) which had accumulated in the castle moat.

6. Defenestration of Prague The Bohemia Estates stormed into Prague's Hradcany Castle and hurled two imperial governors, Jaroslav of Martinic and William of Slavata, along with their secretary out one of the castle windows. Their fall was cushioned by an accumulation of refuse at the bottom of the castle wall, so they were not seriously injured by their fifty-foot fall. They were not killed, however. They fell onto a pile of garbage (mostly straw) which had accumulated in the castle moat.

7. Quote of Incident “A hundred hands dragged them towards the high window, flung back the casement and hoisted them upwards. Martinitz went first. “Jesu Maria! Help!” he screamed and crashed over the sill. Slavata fought longer, calling on the Blessed Virgin and clawing at the window frame under a rain of blows until someone knocked him senseless and the bleeding hands relaxed. Their shivering secretary clung to Schlick for protection; out of sheer intoxication the crowd hoisted him up and sent him to join his masters. One of the rebels lent over the ledge leering; “We will see if your Mary can help you!” A second later between exasperation and amazement, “By God, his Mary has helped,” he exclaimed, for Martinitz was already stirring. Suddenly a ladder protruded from a neighbouring window; Martinitz and the secretary made off under a hail of misdirected missiles. Some of Slavata’s servants, braving the mob, went down to his help and carried him after the others, unconscious but alive.”

8. Views of the Fall Protestants: –Saved by the luck that manure and garbage were there to break their fall, not by the grace of God and angels Catholics –Brought down gently by angels

9. Impact on History Prelude to 30 years war –30 years war lasted from 1618-1648 –Ended in the Peace of Westphalia 402nd anniversary of the second Defenestration of Prague

10. THE END