John of Chlum ( cs, Jan Kepka z Chlumu; 1381–1424) was a Bohemian nobleman and member of the entourage of Jan Hus.

Biography

John was born to Ješek of Chlum, an impoverished noble in the service of the

Berka of Dubá Berka of Dubá ( cs, Berka z Dubé) was a cadet branch of a Bohemian noble family of Lords of Dubá established by Hynek Berka of Dubá (1249–1306). It held estates in what is today the Czech Republic and Saxony in Germany throughout the Middl ...

family. His date of birth is unknown; he is first mentioned in documents from 1381. John, as well as his brothers Peter and William, was likely born in the castle of

Svojkov Svojkov is a municipality and village in Česká Lípa District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is border ...

. He inherited Svojkov after the death of his father. Following his education, John entered the military service of

Sigismund of Hungary Sigismund of Luxembourg (15 February 1368 – 9 December 1437) was a monarch as King of Hungary and Croatia (''jure uxoris'') from 1387, King of Germany from 1410, King of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1433 until his death in 1 ...

. In 1414, Sigismund ordered John and to accompany Jan Hus to the

Council of Constance The Council of Constance was a 15th-century ecumenical council recognized by the Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418 in the Bishopric of Constance in present-day Germany. The council ended the Western Schism by deposing or accepting the res ...

. It was here that John and Jan developed a close friendship. After the council, John entered the service of

Sophia of Bavaria Sophia of Bavaria (; ; 1376 – 4 November 1428In a Munich archive, letters of Sophia from the years 1422–1427 have been found. B. Kopičková, Mnichovský fascikl č. 543. Korespondence královny Žofie z období březen 1422 – prosinec 14 ...

. In 1418, he was appointed as burgrave of Mělník. He was also given the lands of . John of Chlum likely died before 1425.

In popular culture

John of Chlum was played by

Gustav Hilmar Gustav Hilmar, real name Gustav Černý (30 January 1891 – 19 March 1967) was a Czech film actor. He appeared in 46 films between 1927 and 1964. He is buried at the Vinohrady Cemetery. Selected filmography * ''Hordubalové'' (1937) * '' ...

in the 1954 movie '' Jan Hus'' and the 1955 follow-up '' Jan Žižka''.

References

{{reflist 15th-century Bohemian people Medieval Bohemian nobility