| Crusade against Waldensians in Bohemia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theCrusades | |||||
 St. George fighting a dragon, Jindřichův Hradec, made according to Oldřich III | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Lordship ofJindřichův Hradec | Waldensians of the Lordship ofJindřichův Hradec | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Oldřich III of Hradec | Unknown | ||||
TheBohemian Crusade of 1340 was a military expedition againstheretics inBohemia.[1]
Around 1340, most heretics in Bohemia wereGermans, eitherWaldensians orBeguines and Beghards. They were accused of theft and violence against orthodox Christians.[2] In 1335,Pope Benedict XII appointedGallus de Novo Castro asinquisitor for the region aroundPrague with the goal of converting heretics. Although he made some success, he met substantial resistance. In 1339, he travelled toAvignon to confer with Benedict on future action, bringing with himUlrich (Oldřich) III, lord ofHradec.[3]
While Gallus and Ulrich were in Avignon, some converted heretics relapsed, plundered church property and burnt Ulrich's castle along with several villages under his jurisdiction. The lord of Hradec promptly asked the pope to authorize him to lead acrusade against the heretics. In abull dated 6 March 1340, Benedict XII formally granted the sameindulgence to those who took part in Ulrich's punitive expedition as they would obtainpilgrimage to the Holy Land. The expedition took place, but no details of operations are known. Gallus's inquisition was also prosecuted with increased tenacity, so that Benedict wrote to Ulrich on 13 September 1341 requesting him to make available his jails for those arrested by Gallus.[3][4]
The anti-heretic crusade was not the only one preached in Bohemia in 1340. In light of theTatar invasion of Poland, it was also rumoured that the Tatars intended to attack Bohemia. Benedict XII, responding to a request from KingCasimir III of Poland, ordered the crusade preached in Bohemia.[5][6] According toGalvano Fiamma, KingJohn the Blind of Bohemia joined the defence of Poland.[6]
