Second Defenestration of Prague

The 30 Years' War (1618-48) and the Second Defenestration of Prague - Professor Peter Wilson

Gresham College
May 24, 2018

Professor Wilson will examine the causes, conduct and consequences of the Thirty Years War, Europes most destructive conflict prior to the two 20th-century world wars. The talk takes place on the 400th anniversary of the defenestration of three Habsburg officials by Bohemian malcontents in Prague. This violent act triggered a crisis which expanded into general war despite the best efforts of most of those involved to contain it.

Why it took so long to make peace, and what extent the conflict can be considered a religious war will also be discussed.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-an...




defenestration Pronunciation: dee-fen-uh-strey-shun

Definition: the act of throwing someone or something out of a window

Origin: The word "defenestration" originates from the Latin word "fenestra" meaning "window." It gained prominence during the Defenestrations of Prague in the 15th and 17th centuries, where political opponents were thrown out of windows as a means of punishment or protest.

Example: The defenestration of her laptop occurred when she accidentally knocked it off the desk and out the open window.

Throwing someone out of a window is a violent act that has been used throughout history as a form of punishment or protest. The term "defenestration" specifically refers to this action, emphasizing the act of forcefully removing someone or something through a window. While it may sound morbid or extreme, defenestration has been employed in moments of political unrest or personal anger, with historical events highlighting its significance as a dramatic and symbolic act.