of the smaller towns on the other, which was finally decided, unfavourably for the latter party, in the battle of Lipan, on May 30, 1434, which broke for ever the power of the Taborites and Orphans. No quarter was given, and both Prokop the Great and Prokop the Little were killed. The declaration of Prokop the Great at the Council of Basel renders it hard to believe the rhetorical account of Æneas Sylvius, that, when he saw the battle was lost, he gathered round him his body-guard, composed rather of the strongest men than of those whom he loved best, rushed into the midst of the enemy and perished, non tam victus quam vincendo fessus.
The great advantage of the battle of Lipan fell to the Calixtine party, headed by Magister John Rokycana, who was eventually chosen Utraquist Archbishop of Prague, but who was never regularly consecrated, as the confirmation of the election could never be obtained from the Pope. Further negotiations were carried on, the “Compactata” were solemnly published, and Sigismund was acknowledged king in July, 1436, but died on Dec. 9, 1437. He was succeeded by Albert of Austria, who died in 1439. His widowed queen, Elizabeth, became the mother of a son, Ladislaw Postumus, who, while still a minor, was elected King of Bohemia, under the “gubernatorship” of George of Podiebrad, before whose complete recognition as regent unsuccessful attempts were made by the Utraquists to effect an union with the Greek Church. Ladislaw died of the plague in 1457, and George of Podiebrad was elected king, whose reign was spent in vain attempts to obtain the confirmation of the “Compactata,” and of the election of Rokycana as archbishop, from the Pope. George of Podiebrad exercised the most extraordinary influence in Europe during his reign, and was generally regarded as the greatest soldier and statesman of his day. He died on March 22, 1476, almost immediately
