Jerome of Prague

Jerome of Prague was a Bohemian layman, church reformer and friend of Jan Hus. He spread the teachings of Wycliffe, preached against the rapacity and immorality of the clergy and in 1412 spoke out in Prague against the papal sale of indulgences. In 1415 he travelled to the Council of Constance, was arrested while fleeing and brought back in chains. In prison he recanted; before the council he withdrew the recantation. After a trial lasting only one day he was condemned to death by fire as a heretic and burned on 30 May 1416.

Life dates

1398-1416 (about 18 years old)

Country

Germany, Czechia

Institutions

Council of Constance

Category

Heresy trials, Murder

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Background

Course of events

1. Jerome studied in Prague, Oxford, Paris, Cologne and Heidelberg. In Oxford he was impressed by the writings of Wycliffe, which he copied. He was a friend of Jan Hus and took part in all the controversies of the University of Prague.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „Jerome proceeded to Oxford in 1398. There he became greatly impressed by the writings of Wycliffe“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „Jerome was soon on terms of friendship with Hus, and took part in all the controversies of the university.“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. In 1410 Jerome, though a layman, preached before King Sigismund at Ofen, strongly denouncing the rapacity and immorality of the clergy. After a letter from the Archbishop of Prague containing accusations against him the king had him imprisoned. In Vienna he again had to answer to church authorities for spreading Wycliffe's doctrines.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „though a layman, preached before the king denouncing strongly the rapacity and immorality of the clergy“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „Sigismund shortly afterwards received a letter from the archbishop of Prague containing accusations against Jerome. He was imprisoned by order of the king“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „He was accused of spreading Wycliffe’s doctrines“

Response of the Church

1. In 1412 representatives of the pope publicly offered indulgences for sale in Prague to raise money for the pope's campaign against the King of Naples. Hus and Jerome spoke out strongly against the sale of indulgences at a meeting of the university.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „publicly offered indulgences for sale at Prague, wishing to raise money for the pope’s campaign against King Ladislaus of Naples“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Absatz 1

   „both Hus and Jerome spoke strongly against the sale of indulgences“

   Evidence: Joseph Wilhelm, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 7 (1910), Artikel Jan Hus

   „Both Hus and Jerome of Prague aroused the university and the populace against the papal commission which had been sent to announce the indulgences“

See also

• Person 1369-1415 · about 46 years old

  Jan Hus

  • Czechia
  • Admission
  • Heresy trials
• 1382-1428 · 46 years

  England 1382 to 1428: persecution of the Lollards, burnings of heretics, ban on the English Bible, Wyclif's bones dug up and burned

  • United Kingdom
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
  • Censorship
• Person 1410-1419 · about 9 years old

  Antipope John XXIII (Baldassare Cossa)

  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Financial misconduct
• 1420-1431 · 11 years

  Crusades against the Hussites 1420 to 1431: Pope Martin V called for the destruction of the "heretics" in Bohemia, and several crusading armies marched into Bohemia

  • Germany
  • Czechia
  • Violence
  • Crusade
  • Persecution

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Jerome of Prague, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Joseph Wilhelm, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 7 (1910): Jan Hus, 1 January 1910. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.