Abstrakt
In terms of methodology and themes, Rudolf Urbánek (1877-1962) followed in his own research the works of his university lecturer, Professor Václav Novotný, concerning Huss and the Hussite movement. He belonged to his students, together with Otakar Odližík, Jaroslav Prokeš and František M.
Bartoš who were one generation younger. Václav Novotný supported his student and his academic career.
Both historians were also close in terms of their political opinions. As soon as at the grammar school, Urbánek was forming his political attitudes under the influence of Masaryk's realism.
He became a historian and his political opinions had a distinct influence on his approach to Huss and to the events of Czech and European Reformation. He captured the thought of the Czech reformer in two studies devoted to the Czech messianism of Huss's era.
The first one explored the roots of Czech Hussite messianism, the second one its development. According to Urbánek, Huss's friends and followers were convinced that they received in a special revelation such a deep insight into the Divine law that they were summoned to use this knowledge in the strife to put the Church and the Christian society on the way that leads to God's kingdom.
The lay sacral chalice became the symbol of these universalistic messianistic tendencies in the Czech reform of the church.