What's in a Prague street name

Mikuláše z Husi was built in 1906.

Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, the street was known as Husova – as is a street in Prague 1: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/10/05/prague-1-day-169-husova/.

Mikuláš z Pístného was born around 1375, and the earliest written reference we have to him is from 1389.

In 1406, King Václav/Wenceslas IV made him hereditary burgrave of Hus Castle, hence the change in name.

A supporter of communion under both kinds – ie the reception of the Eucharist via both consecreated bread and wine – he asked Václav to allow it in 1419. Václav freaked out and ordered Mikuláš out of Prague.

However, Mikuláš then managed to organise large meetings in the mountains and began to plan military resistance to the regime.

Mikuláš returned to Prague in later 1419 – shortly after Václav had died during a hunting trip, and shortly after the events described on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-164-karlovo-namesti/.

He led an attack on Malá Strana, and then retreated to (and occupied) Zelená hora near Nepomuk – but ultimately had to surrender to this to Bohuslav ze Švamberk (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/05/07/prague-4-day-88-bohuslava-ze-svamberka/).

Mikuláš then retreated to Tábor (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/02/06/prague-4-day-26-taborska/); in 1420, the Taborites – led by Mikuláš (right) and Jan Žižka (left) – besieged Prague.

He was a key contributor to the Hussite victory at https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/02/01/prague-4-day-21-na-vitezne-plani/ on 1 November 1420. However, after this battle, the followers of the two men split up.

Mikuláš asked the alderman of Prague to allow the gates of Prague to be guarded by the people of both Prague and Tábor; they refused. Mikuláš decided it was time to leave Prague.

However, while departing, he fell from his horse while crossing the Botič (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/26/prague-2-day-115-boticska/), and died in December 1420. His unexpected death reduced the number of power struggles that Jan Žižka would need to endure to lead the Taborites.