Brothers (1445–1467)

Brothers (Czech: bratříci, Slovak: bratríci, Polish: bracia[1]) were independent units composed of former Hussite fighters operating in the years 1445–1467 in the territory of present-day Slovakia, Moravia, northern Austria and southern Poland.

[4] Their core was made up of Czech Hussite fighters (mainly Taborites), but their ranks also included Slovak peasants, the urban poor, representatives of the lower clergy, and even some impoverished feudal lords.

[6] At that time, they plundered many settlements and monasteries – Camaldolese in Červený Kláštor and Premonstratensian in Jasov,[7] and in the years 1447-1451 they also regularly attacked trade caravans heading to Poland.

In 1455 they managed to defend Kežmarok in Spiš against the troops of John Jiskra, who was then in Hungarian service, while the growing involvement of cities (especially Levoča and Bardejov) in combating it became an increasing threat to the movement.

In 1458, after the defeat in the Battle of Blatný Potok (Sárospatak), during which many members of the movement were killed and taken prisoner, the formation gradually declined, which ended in 1467 with the capture of the camp at Veľké Kostoľany in western Slovakia by Matthias Corvinus' troops.