A City Divided
The sun rose over Prague's beautiful towers one spring morning in 1618. The city looked peaceful, but things were not okay. People were angry and scared.
Little Jana watched from her window as groups of men hurried through the cobblestone streets. Her papa was one of them – a Protestant noble who believed people should worship God in their own way.
"Why are you leaving so early, Papa?" Jana asked, her blue eyes full of worry.
Her father adjusted his fancy coat. "Important meetings at the castle today, little one. The Emperor is trying to tell us how to pray, and we can't let that happen."
The castle sat high on a hill, watching over Prague like a giant stone guardian. Inside its walls, two groups of people were fighting. On one side were the Catholics, led by Emperor Ferdinand II. He wanted everyone to be Catholic like him. On the other side were the Protestants, who wanted to choose their own way to pray.
"But Papa," Jana said, "why can't everyone just pray how they want?"
Her father sighed. "That's what we're trying to fix, sweetheart. The Emperor doesn't understand that forcing people to change their beliefs only makes them angry."
In the streets below, more nobles in fancy clothes walked toward the castle. Some wore worried faces, others looked determined. They all knew something big was about to happen.
The Emperor’s Rules
Emperor Ferdinand sat in his royal chair, far away in Vienna. He made new rules that made the Protestants very upset:
• No more Protestant churches could be built
• Protestant meetings were not allowed
• Everyone had to go to Catholic church
Little Jana's family had been Protestant for many years. They had their own special Bible in their own language. Now the Emperor wanted to take that away.
"Mama," Jana whispered as she helped set the breakfast table, "are we in trouble?"
Her mother pulled her close. "No, dear one. Your father and the other nobles will protect our rights. They're brave men who know what's right."
A City Holds Its Breath
The morning grew warmer. In the castle, servants rushed around getting ready for the big meeting. Guards stood at their posts, watching everyone who came in.
Jana's father joined other Protestant nobles in the courtyard. They wore serious faces and carried important papers. These papers listed all the ways the Emperor had broken his promises to let them worship freely.
"The Emperor must listen," one noble said.
"And if he doesn't?" asked another.
Nobody answered, but they all knew something would have to change. The peace in Prague was like a bubble ready to pop.
As the nobles climbed the castle steps, Jana watched from her window. She didn't understand all the grown-up problems, but she could feel that this day would be different from any other.
"Please keep Papa safe," she whispered to the morning sky.
The castle bells rang out, calling everyone to the meeting that would change everything. The sound echoed through Prague's streets, bouncing off the old stone buildings and floating down to where Jana stood watching.
Something big was about to happen in the castle on the hill. And when it did, nothing in Prague would ever be the same again.
The Storm Gathers
The morning sun warmed the castle walls as Jana’s father and the other Protestant nobles gathered in the grand meeting room. Their boots clicked on the stone floor, and their voices were low and serious.
“Count Thurn, what will we do?” asked Lord Slavata, twisting his fancy ring. “The Emperor’s men close our churches every day!”
Count Heinrich von Thurn stood tall by the window. He was a brave leader who fought for what was right. “We must show them we are strong,” he said. “We won’t let them take away our freedom to pray.”
The Emperor’s Bad Choices
Far away in Vienna, Emperor Ferdinand made things worse every day. He sent mean letters to Prague saying:
• All Protestant schools must close
• Only Catholic teachers can teach
• Protestant churches must become Catholic
• Anyone who doesn't obey will be punished
“My daughter can’t even go to her school anymore,” said one noble, hitting his fist on the table. “This must stop!”
Brave Hearts
Back at home, little Jana helped her mother pack away their special Protestant Bible. They had to hide it under loose floorboards.
“Why are we hiding our Bible, Mama?” Jana asked.
“Because some people don’t want us to read it,” her mother said softly. “But we must be brave, like your father.”
The Plan Forms
At the castle, Count Thurn gathered his friends close. “Tomorrow,” he whispered, “we will face the Emperor’s men. They must learn they cannot boss us around anymore.”
The nobles nodded. Some looked scared, but all stood tall. They knew they had to protect their families and their beliefs.
“What if they don’t listen?” asked a young noble.
Count Thurn’s eyes got dark. “Then we will make them listen. Sometimes brave people must do hard things to make things right.”
A City Ready to Break
That evening, Prague felt different. Guards marched through the streets. People hurried home early. Even the birds seemed to know something big was coming.
Jana watched her father clean his special sword. “Will there be fighting, Papa?”
He hugged her tight. “We hope not, little one. But sometimes you must stand strong to protect what’s right.”
As night fell over Prague, candles burned in windows all over the city. In noble houses, men checked their weapons and wrote letters to their families. In the castle, servants whispered about tomorrow’s big meeting.
The air felt heavy with worry. Everyone knew tomorrow would change everything. But no one knew just how big that change would be – or how far its effects would reach.
Count Thurn stood at his window, looking out over the sleeping city. “Tomorrow,” he whispered, “Prague will show the Emperor we are not afraid.”
A Day That Changed Everything
The morning sun peeked through the tall windows of Prague Castle. Inside, the halls buzzed with whispers. Today was going to be different.
The Big Meeting
Count Thurn and his friends marched up the castle steps. Their boots made loud sounds on the stone floor. In their hands, they carried papers full of complaints for the Emperor’s men.
“Are you ready?” Count Thurn asked his friends. They all nodded, though some looked scared.
In the meeting room waited two men who worked for the Emperor: Martinitz and Slavata. They sat at a big table, looking grumpy. Their friend Philip was there too, writing everything down.
The Fight Begins
“You must stop closing our churches!” Count Thurn said in a loud voice. His face was red with anger.
Martinitz shook his head. “We only follow the Emperor’s orders,” he said with a mean smile.
The Big Moment
Count Thurn looked at his friends. They all remembered their secret plan. Without saying a word, they grabbed Martinitz first.
“What are you doing?” Martinitz yelled. But the nobles didn’t listen.
They carried him to the big window. The window was very high – about three floors up! Then, something amazing happened.
“One… two… THREE!” they shouted.
WHOOSH! Out went Martinitz through the window!
More Trouble
Slavata tried to run away, but the nobles caught him too. “No, please!” he begged. But out the window he went!
Poor Philip tried to hide, but they found him. “I’m just the writer!” he cried. But they threw him out too!
Everyone Was Shocked
The nobles ran to the window and looked down. They couldn’t believe what they saw!
“Look!” someone shouted. “They’re moving!”
Yes, all three men were alive! They had fallen into a big pile of garbage and paper that was super soft. It was like landing on a giant pillow!
“It’s a miracle!” some people said.
“No, it was the garbage pile!” others laughed.
The News Spreads
Little Jana heard about it at home that night. “Papa, did you really throw people out the window?” she asked.
Her father looked serious. “Sometimes brave people do scary things to protect what they believe in,” he said.
That night, Prague was full of excited talk. Some people were happy, some were scared. But everyone knew things would never be the same again.
As the sun set, Count Thurn wrote in his diary: “Today we showed the Emperor we are strong. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, but we are ready.”
Miracles and Messages
The morning after the big window incident, Prague was buzzing like a beehive! Everyone wanted to know what happened to the three men who fell.
A Lucky Landing
“They landed in trash!” little Peter told his friends in the town square. “My papa saw it!”
And it was true! Martinitz, Slavata, and Philip had fallen into a huge pile of old papers and garbage. The pile was soft, like landing on pillows made of letters.
Different Stories
Catholics said it was a miracle from heaven. “Angels caught them!” they said.
Protestants laughed at this idea. “It was just lucky trash!” they said.
Both sides told different stories about what happened:
• Catholics said Mary's cloak helped them float down
• Protestants said the men just got lucky
• Some people said the pile of garbage saved them
• Others thought the slope of the hill helped them slide
Running Away
The three men didn’t stay to chat. They were scared!
“Quick, we must get away!” Martinitz whispered to his friends.
They ran to the house of a nice lady named Mrs. Polyxena. She helped them hide and gave them warm soup.
News Travels Fast
Messages about the window throwing spread like wildfire!
Riders on fast horses took the news to other cities. Soon, everyone was talking about what happened in Prague.
“Did you hear?” people would say. “They threw the Emperor’s men out a window!”
Getting Ready
Count Thurn and his friends knew they were in big trouble. They started getting ready for what might happen next.
“We need more soldiers,” Count Thurn said.
“And more food,” added his friend.
“And lots of helpers,” said another.
A City Changes
Prague looked different now. Soldiers walked the streets. People whispered instead of talking loud.
Little Maria noticed the change. “Mama, why is everyone so quiet?” she asked.
“Because sometimes being brave means getting ready for hard times,” her mama said.
Messages to the Emperor
The Emperor was far away in Vienna. When he got the news, his face turned red with anger!
“How dare they!” he shouted. “They will pay for this!”
He started writing letters to his friends. He wanted help to punish Prague.
That night, a full moon shone over Prague. The city was quiet, but not peaceful. Everyone could feel that something big was about to happen.
Old Mr. Josef looked up at the moon and sighed. “The world is changing,” he told his cat. “I hope we’re ready for what comes next.”
War Clouds Gather
The streets of Prague were different now. Soldiers marched where children used to play. The happy sounds of the city turned into worried whispers.
Friends and Enemies
Count Thurn stood at his window, watching people hurry by. His friend Jan rushed in with news.
“The Emperor’s army is coming!” Jan said, out of breath. “And they’re not alone!”
Getting Ready
The people of Prague worked hard to get ready:
• They stored food in big rooms
• Made more arrows and swords ⚔️
• Fixed the city walls
• Trained new soldiers
• Asked other cities for help
Brave Little Hearts
Even children helped prepare. Little Anna carried water to workers. Tommy helped count bread in the storage rooms.
“Why are we doing this, Papa?” Tommy asked.
“Because sometimes we must stand up for what’s right,” his father answered softly.
First Battles
The fighting started in small villages near Prague. Bang! Boom! Soldiers on horses rode fast through fields.
Brave Leaders
Count Thurn rode his horse through Prague’s streets. His voice was strong and brave.
“We must be strong!” he called. “We fight for our right to pray how we want!”
People cheered when they heard him. They felt braver.
Hidden Heroes
Not all heroes carried swords. Mrs. Baker made extra bread for hungry families. Mr. Smith fixed broken tools for free.
Messages of Hope
Letters flew between cities like birds carrying hope:
“Dear friends in Prague, We will help you. Stay strong. Your friends in Holland.”
“To our brothers in Prague, We send soldiers to fight with you. Your friends in England.”
The Big Change
What started with three men falling from a window was now much bigger. Armies moved across Europe like giant waves.
As night fell over Prague, stars twinkled above the worried city. In homes and shops, people prayed for peace. But they knew more fighting was coming.
Young Peter looked up at the stars. “Will we win, Mama?”
“Sometimes winning isn’t about fighting,” she said. “It’s about standing up for what you believe in.”
The wind carried the sound of distant drums. Tomorrow would bring new battles, but tonight, Prague stood together, strong and brave.
Legacy of Courage
The morning sun rose over a changed Prague. The city that once saw three men fall from a window now watched as history unfolded.
A Different World
Little Maria peeked through her window at the soldiers below. “Everything’s different now, Papa,” she whispered.
“Yes, little one,” her father replied. “But change can make us stronger.”
Brave Hearts Remember
Old Mr. Josef sat in his chair, telling children about that famous day:
“I was there when those men flew out the window,” he said. “They landed in a pile of hay – like angels catching them!”
The children’s eyes grew wide. “Were you scared?” asked little Thomas.
“We were brave because we had to be,” Josef smiled. “Just like you’re brave now.”
New Ways of Living
The war brought many changes:
• People learned to help each other more
• Different churches stayed in Prague ️
• New friends came from far away lands
• People wrote more books about being free
• Families became stronger together ❤️
Stories of Hope
Sarah, the baker’s daughter, still remembers: “We made extra bread every day. Anyone who was hungry got some. That’s what neighbors do!”
Lessons Learned
Count Thurn stood on the castle wall one last time. The city below looked peaceful now.
“What did we learn?” asked his grandson.
“We learned that standing up for what’s right matters,” he answered. “And that little actions can change the whole world.”
A New Beginning
Young Peter, now grown, walked with his own children through Prague’s streets.
“Papa, tell us about the window again!” they begged.
He smiled. “It’s a story about being brave, about standing up for what you believe in, and about how one small moment can change everything.”
Looking Forward
The sun set over Prague’s spires, painting the sky orange and pink. The city had changed, but its spirit remained strong.
Children still played in the streets. Church bells still rang. And in the castle, near that famous window, visitors stopped to remember.
The Second Defenestration of Prague wasn’t just about three men falling from a window. It was about people standing up for what they believed in. It was about courage, hope, and how even small actions can change the world.
As night fell over Prague, stars twinkled above the peaceful city. The wind whispered stories of brave hearts and strong spirits, reminding everyone that sometimes the biggest changes start with just one small step.