The break of the 16th and 17th century was a period of religious
conflicts not only in the Habsburg monarchy, but all around
Europe. The Czechs felt inhibited by the Austrian absolutism,
especially their religious dictate. After the Hussite
revolution, most people including Czech nobility, were
Protestant. In 1618, the nobles broke into the Prague Castle and
defenestrated (threw out a window) three catholic officials.
Then they established a ‘government’ and even appointed their
own king, Fridrich from Pfalz, the leader of the international
Protestant Union, who used his contacts with the already non-
catholic Netherlands and England. The financial and militarily
help was very small and the Czech Protestants lost the key
battle in 1620. Ten noblemen and seventeen townsmen were
executed at the Prague Old Town Square. Their heads were placed
on spikes and put up as a warning. The White Mountain battle in
1620 that took place near villa Hvězda in Prague, confirmed the
Habsburg absolutism for years to come. Over 3