What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 27 June 2022.

Biskupcova was built in 1930.

Mikuláš z Pelhřimova, or Nikolaus von Pelgrims, *or* Mikuláš Biskupec (1385-1459 approx.) was born in, yes, Pelhřimov, but started studying in Prague around 1406.

Around this time, he became a devoted follower of Jan Hus. In 1415, he was ordained as a priest.

In 1420, Mikuláš was elected as bishop of Tábor (hence the name ‘Biskupec’). Technically, however, he was only an ‘elder’, because big decisions remained with the Synod of the Priesthood.

As a representative of Tábor, he was regularly involved in negotiations with theologians and the masters of Prague University.

In 1444, the Land Assembly condemned the teachings of the Tábor theologians as erroneous. Biskupec refused to submit to this verdict.

In 1452, Tábor capitulated to George of Poděbrady, and Mikuláš was imprisoned until he swore allegiance to Jan Rokycana (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-19-rokycanova/) is also in the neighbourhood).

He did so, but was then sent to a dungeon at a castle in Poděbrady. He was seriously injured in an attempt to escape, and died shortly afterwards, probably in 1459.