What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 10 August 2022.

Jeronýmova was built in 1896.

Jeroným Pražský, or Jerome of Prague (1379-1416), studied at Charles University, as well as at Oxford, where he read the teachings of John Wycliffe (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-26-viklefova/).

He later distributed Wycliffe’s works in Bohemia.

In 1409, he was heavily involved in the Decree of Kutná Hora, which, for the first time, gave Czechs a majority of votes over the affairs of Charles University.

Spending time in Vienna in 1410, he was found guilty of perjury and excommunicated for spreading Wycliffe’s ideas.

When Jan Hus was arrested at the Council of Constance in 1415, Jeroným rushed there to defend him.

He started to flee back to Prague when he realised he was about to be arrested – but only made it as far as Hirschau (in Bavaria) before being caught.

In a bid to save himself, he denied his support of Wycliffe and Hus’s teachings before the Council, but remained imprisoned.

In May 1416, he distanced himself from his recantation, and condemned the pride, luxury and pomp of the Church.

He was condemned as a heretic on 30 May, and was tortured and burnt at the stake on the same day.