Medieval: The True Story Behind the Historical Netflix Drama Starring Michael Caine
Directed by Jan Žižka and available on the Netflix streaming platform, Medieval is a historical drama starring Ben Foster and Michael Caine. The film tells the story of the knight, mercenary and future leader of the Hussite army Jan Žižka, who in the 14th century opposed the expansionist aims of King Henry III of Rosenberg, fighting and defeating the armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire. The story told, therefore, is based on a true story.
Medieval: The True Story Behind the Netflix Movie
Medieval is partly based on the true story of the Czech general named Jan Žižka z Trocnova in Kalicha, known in English as John Zizka of Trocnov. He was born in the small village of Trocnov in the Kingdom of Bohemia to a Czech noble family and became a successful military leader, fighting several wars during the 14th and 15th centuries. Zizka played a leading role in civil wars in Bohemia and led the Hussites during the Battle of Sudoměř in 1420 and the Battle of Vítkov Hill in 1420. His innovative and unorthodox battle tactics earned him a reputation as a warrior throughout. the nation and was nicknamed “One-eyed Zizka After losing an eye during a battle. Later, he lost – always in battle – his other eye.
Although historical records confirm Zizka’s existence and exploitation on the battlefield in the 15th century, not much is known about his early life. Among historians, there are different currents of thought regarding Zizka’s family, how he lived his childhood and even his date of birth. The director of Medieval worked with historian Jaroslav Čechura to create the most authentic portrait of the character possible. However, in some interviews, he explained that since many details of Zizka’s early life are debated among historians or completely unknown, he took some liberties when making the script. For example, the director added the fictional character of Lord Boreš, played by Michael Caine. Similarly, he also chose to include a love story in the film to explore the emotions of a young man who is destined to become a warrior.
