John Jiskra of Brandýs
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Jan Jiskra z Brandýsa (Template:Lang-de; Template:Lang-hu; c. 1400 – c. 1469), in English sometimes referred as John Giskra, was a Czech strategist and mercenary soldier.
Early life
Jan Jiskra came from the Moravian branch of the noble family Páni z Brandýsa (Lords of Brandýs), he was possibly a son of Alšík z Brandýsa.
Jiskra spent his youth in Bohemia and partially also in Italy, where he – according to several sources – attended the battles of the Republic of Venice. In the Czech lands he became familiar with Hussite war strategies. Following the Battle of Lipany Jiskra, together with other Hussite soldiers, joined the army of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg and fought with Turkish troops in the region of Belgrade.
In the Service of Elizabeth of Luxembourg
In his young age he was soldiering in several european countries, including Italy. He ended up in Hungary in the service of King Sigismund of Hungary and he continued to serve Sigismund's successor King Albert. Albert's widow, Elizabeth of Luxembourg after the coronation of his son, Ladislaus the Posthumous at Székesfehérvár went to Győr in May 1440 and summoned Jiskra and his Czech mercenaries there as well. From there Jiskra accompanied the King, his mother and the Holy Crown of Hungary to Pozsony (Bratislava). After this Jiskra, who was bestowed upon by the queen dowager with the High Captaincy of the mining towns of Upper Hungary and Kassa (Košice) as well as Zólyom Castle (Pustý hrad) remained a supporter of the young Ladislaus V against King Władysław III of Poland and the estates of Hungary. Using Hussite tactics he occupied Lőcse (Levoca), Bártfa (Bardejov), Körmöcbánya (Kremnica), Selmecbánya (Banská Štiavnica), Eperjes (Presov), Késmárk (Kežmarok) in a short time. He minted coins in the name of King Ladislaus, and successfully interrupted Wladyslaw's line of communication with Poland. His men built small castles all over Upper Hungary which were served as a protection of the countryside and checked the enemy's movements. He imposed taxes and tributes on the peasants and settled Czech and Moravian artisans at the newly built castles. In the life of Elizabeth of Luxembourg, Jiskra successfully defended Upper Hungary against the attacks of Wladyslaw and his allies, John and Nicolaus Perényi.
References
- Václav Chaloupecký: Jiskra z Brandýsa: Tvůrcové dějin 2, Prag 1934
- Jan Jiskra z Brandýsa a politický zápas Habsburků s Jagellovci o Uhry v letech 1440–42: Historické štúdie 3, Bratislava 1957
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