Houska, Martin

(also Martin Húska; nicknamed Loquis, “the eloquent”). Year of birth unknown; died Aug. 21, 1421, in the town of Roudnice, Northern Bohemia. Ideologist of the peasant-plebian wing of the Taborites—the so-called Pickarts. Priest from Moravia.

After the defeat of the Pickarts in 1421, Houska left Tabor, but he was captured by the moderate Taborites and burned. Houska’s doctrine is known by certain excerpts from his treatises, quoted in the works of his opponents. In his sermons, which bear a chiliastic character, Houska predicted the appearance of a new social structure with no private property and no clerical or secular authorities. Houska demanded the elimination of class and property inequalities, as well as the abolition of cult and religious sacraments, which he considered to be superstitions.