What's in a Prague street name

 Žateckých was built in 1931.

The street is named after a group of people from Žatec, a town of 20,000 people, located 62 km north-west of Prague. As late as the 1500s, it was one of the largest cities in Bohemia. More on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/10/20/prague-1-day-207-zatecka/.

In the late 1410s, many Hussites thought that the end of the world was approaching, but also predicted that five Bohemian cities would escape destruction at this point. One of these was Žatec.

The city was a major centre of Hussitism, and important Hussites priests worked there.

It’s therefore no surprise that, when the Battle of Vyšehrad occurred on 1 November 1420, forces from Žatec – žatečtí, or in the genitive form, žateckých – were key in the victorious Hussite forces.

This street – which leads into https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/02/01/prague-4-day-21-na-vitezne-plani/ – commemorates their participation.

Less than a year later, the Second Anti-Hussite Crusade would occur, and, in September 1421, Žatec would undergo a month-long siege, but came out victorious.

Modern-day Žateckých – which is really three streets leading into a central square – is the location of the Parish Church of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Prague 4 – Nusle (Farní sbor Českobratrské církve evangelické v Praze 4 – Nuslích).