The Czechs and the European art of war
Principality, and later Kingdom of Bohemia is geographically in the center of Europe. Routes from north to south and from west to east crossed it as far back as the Middle Ages. Everybody who wanted to conquer Europe or at least a part of it had to pass through it. There was a saying that was handed down from generation to generation until as late as the 20th century that the one who rules Bohemia rules Europe.
Accordingly, only a nation that was able to form a stable state and repulse practically permanent pressure from the neighbors could live through the conflicts. After unavailing efforts of the Celts and Germans, the Slavs, who tried to occupy the Czech basin three times, partly succeeded in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Their first two attempts to establish an empire - the Empire of Samo and the Empire of Great Moravia, however, did not withstand the attacks from the east and west.
The third and definitively successful attempt to form a Slavic state was undertook by the Premyslid dynasty, which in the course of the 10th century united the Slavic tribes living in a basin protected by mountains. It was the birth of the Czech state and Czech nation.
The Czech Premyslid rulers had to resist attacks from their neighbors. Rich and fruitful Bohemia and Moravia were tempting loot. Attacks were charged predominantly from the west from Germany, but also from the North from Poland, and from the South from Austria, less often from Hungary. When the attacks were fought off, punitive actions were taken, and the Czechs normally made a raid into enemy territory. After the country suffered damage from the invaders the equivalent harm was then inflicted on them.
Czech military activity in the Middle Ages was not only limited to protection of the country and ferocious counterattacks. Important war campaigns aimed at obtaining territorial gains and retaining them were launched. Many Czech rulers (Boleslav II, Premysl I, Premysl II, Vaclav II, Jan of Luxembourg, Charles IV) reigned not only in the Czech lands, but also temporarily in the whole of Central Europe or its substantial part. They influenced the course of events in entire Europe. They took a great interest in the events happening as far as the coasts of the Atlantic, Baltic, and Adriatic. Emperors and popes curried favor with them. These and also other great Czech monarchs sent Czech armies to fight a long way from their homeland. They battled for their cause or came to the rescue of their allies. The Czechs became famous as a formidable, brave, and merciless enemy. They were the first to fall upon the enemy, crossed flooded rivers, fought against overwhelming odds, but also plundered ruthlessly.
King Premysl II died in a battle in Austria, Jan of Luxembourg in France, and other rulers died natural deaths in war expeditions or while preparing them. Fighting was main occupation of Czech medieval aristocracy, who accompanied their rulers. In the times of Jan of Luxembourg people used to say that there was no real fight without a Czech king.
A separate chapter in the history of Czech military art was the first half of the 15th century. Czech peasants, followers of the teachings of the Bohemian religious reformer John Huss destroyed the superior strength of elite armor-clad warriors standing behind a barricade of wagons. They used firearms for the first time in field battles on a massive scale. They excelled because they were tenacious, uncompromising, and fought to the last breath. They were respected all over Europe. Local craftsmen, who laid the foundations for Czech military production, supplied their weapons.
When the Czech state was integrated into the Habsburg monarchy in 1526, the new sovereigns were glad they could use the military mastery of the Czechs. They proved their talents not only as courageous commanders and soldiers, but they often served in technical units and artillery due to their traditional education and ability to improvise.
Czech soldiers in the service of the Habsburgs defended Vienna between 1529 and 1683, fought for both sides of Thirty Years‘ War, defeated the Prussians at the battle of Kolin, but were beaten near Hradec Kralove. Czech volunteers took part in Balkan wars as well as American War of Independence. Other Czechs massively produced weapons.
Several key European battles took place in Bohemia, Moravia or their vicinity - Battle of Lech, Moravian Field, Lützen, Jankov, Kolin, Slavkov, Leipzig, and Hradec Kralove.
Czech military history is still topical. There are hundreds of groups of historical fencing well known across Europe. Castles, strongholds, and cities are being recaptured. Military historical clubs organize dozens of demonstrations of battles waged in recent or distant past in the heart of Europe.