The Hussite Wars were a series of conflicts in the early 15th century in what is now the Czech Republic. They arose from the teachings of Jan Hus, a religious reformer who criticized the Catholic Church. After Hus was executed in 1415, his followers, known as the Hussites, rebelled against the church and the ruling authorities. The wars lasted from 1419 to 1434 and involved various factions, including the radical Taborites and the more moderate Utraquists. The Hussites fought for religious reforms and greater autonomy, leading to significant changes in the region's political and religious landscape.