The Beer War of 1380

Garrett Van Reed - 14th January 2010

Silesia’s political ties to the Polish crown came to an end in 1327, just prior to the passing of King Henryk VI - last of the once-powerful, yet suddenly successor-less Piast line. Joining Bohemia per prior arrangement, Silesia’s capital became known as ‘Vretslav’ and, as history would have it, wouldn’t return to Polish rule until 1945.

Throughout the Bohemian era Vretslav was dominated by the Rata or Rat – a city council headed by an elected chairman with mayoral duties. The establishment of the city council quickly set it at odds with the Church, who prior to its inception had held the most sway over local matters. Things came to a head in 1380, when a quibble between the two s ...