Battle of Sellnitz

Battle of Sellnitz
Part of Post-Hussite Wars
Date 23 September 1438 Location Sellnitz, Bohemia Result German victory
Belligerents
Electorate of Saxony Kingdom of Germany hetman's forces of region Litoměřice and Žatec	Hussites of Žatec and Louny Polish allies
Commanders and leaders
Jakoubek of Vřesovice Frederick II of Saxony	Petr Holický (POW) Svojše of Zahrádka (POW)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	500 killed 1,657 prisoners Hermann Hallwich: 2,000 killed 2,000 prisoners

The Battle of Sellnitz was fought on 23 September 1438 between the Imperial Saxons and the Hussites. The Saxons were led by Frederick II of Saxony. On his journey to Saxony from Bohemia was accompanied by czech noble Jakoubek of Vřesovice, the former hussite leader (hetman) of the Union of Žatec and Louny, now hetman of the region Litoměřice and Žatec. During their journey they clashed with the hussite army of the Union of Žatec and Louny led by several nobles strengthened by 300 Polish cavalrymen. Jakoubek tried to negotiate with his former companions, but failed. The Saxons won the battle; about 2,000 Hussites were killed, and again as many taken prisoner.[1]

According to the Želenice Chronicle, the battle took place at the foot of Želenice Hill.[2] The chronicle states, among other things, that in 1923 a farmer found several relatively well-preserved weapons and coins from that time while ploughing. However, the location of the battle is disputable, because according to Palacký Jakoubek "pulled ... beyond the Bílina",[3] i.e. the battle could have taken place on the other side of the river.

References

1. Hermann Hallwich: Jakaubek of Wřesowitz. A contribution to the history of the Hussite movement. In: Narrative of the Association for the History of Germans in Bohemia ., Vol 4 (1866), pp 33-49, here p.40.
2. "Oficiální stránky obce Želenice - Historie". www.zelenice.cz. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
3. PALACKÝ, František. Dějiny národu českého v Čechách a v Moravě. Praha: Kočí, 1907. 1279 s. S. 725

Bibliography

• Schlesinger, Ludwig. The battle at Sellnitz (1438). Narrative of the Association for the History of Germans in Bohemia, Vol. 20 (1882), pp. 1-61

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