Diviš Bořek of Miletínek (c. 1360s — 8 January 1438) was a Czech knight and captain of the Hussites in central and eastern Bohemia during the Hussite Wars. Rising from minor nobility, he became a powerful figure in eastern Bohemia through warfare, political maneuvering, and land acquisition.
Biography[]
Early Life & Entry into the Hussite Movement[]
Born in the 1360s into a lower noble knight family, Diviš was based at the small fortress of Miletínek near the village of Miletín in northeastern Bohemia. The execution of Czech reformer Jan Hus in 1415 drew Diviš into the growing Hussite movement. Initially, he aligned with its radical wing and fought alongside the famed commander Jan Žižka.
Military Success and Rise in Power (1420–1423)[]
In 1420, Diviš and Hussite priest Ambrož Hradecký captured Hradec Králové, the dominant city in eastern Bohemia. This victory enabled Diviš to raid religious institutions, including the Benedictine monastery at Opatovice nad Labemand the Cistercian convent in Sezemice, seizing vast properties and wealth.
With his new fortune, Diviš built Kunětická hora Castle in 1423, strategically located near Pardubice.
Campaigns and Conflicts in Moravia (1423)[]
In the summer of 1423, Diviš co-led a Hussite campaign into Moravia with Bedřich of Strážnice, defeating forces loyal to Bishop Jan XII Železný of Olomouc and Duke Přemek I of Opava. However, on their return, their army was ambushed near Hradec Králové by Žižka himself, who seized their spoils in a stunning reversal between supposed allies.
Shifting Allegiances & Siege of Kolín (1427)[]
Over time, Diviš moved toward the moderate Utraquist faction of the Hussites. In 1427, as commander of Kolín, he hosted a war council planning an attack on Prague. The plan was betrayed, resulting in a failed offensive. In retaliation, radical Hussite leader Prokop the Great besieged Kolín. Diviš held the town for three months, but internal dissent from pro-radical townspeople forced a negotiated surrender.
Final Years & the Battle of Lipany (1434)[]
In the war’s final phase, Diviš became a senior leader among the moderates, supporting both Utraquists and Catholics loyal to King Sigismund of Luxembourg. He played a central role in the Battle of Lipany on 30 May 1434, where the united moderate-Catholic forces crushed the radical Taborites and Orphans, ending the Hussite Wars.
Later Life, Wealth, & Legacy[]
Diviš’s wartime service brought significant rewards. He was formally granted control of Kunětická hora and acquired more territory, including Pardubice (purchased in 1436) and Přelouč (received as a royal pawn in 1437). By the time of his death in 1438, Diviš was one of the wealthiest men in eastern Bohemia in his 70s.
Though his sons inherited this vast estate, they were unable to maintain it, and the family’s fortunes quickly declined.