Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/860

 830 ZISKA ZODIAC 1421 Ziska took the castle of Prague, and with it gained possession of four cannon, the first that were introduced into Bohemia. During the same year he lost the sight of his remaining eye by an arrow, while besieging the castle of Raby. This however did not interfere with his activity or his generalship. He was carried in a car at the head of his troops, and was enabled to give orders for their disposition from the description of the ground given him by his officers, and from his own minute knowl- edge of the country. About the close of 1421 Sigismund led a second large army into Bo- hemia, which included a splendid body of 15,- 000 Hungarian horse. A battle took place at Deutsch-Brod in January, 1422, in which the imperial army was totally routed. Followed closely by Ziska in their retreat to Moravia, the fleeing troops, in crossing the Iglawa on the ice, broke through and 2,000 were drowned. He repeatedly vanquished the citizens of Prague, who were not disposed to obey his orders, and the uniform success of his arms at last con- vinced Sigismund that there was no prospect of the reduction of Bohemia. The emperor therefore made proposals to the blind general, offering full religious liberty to the Hussites, and the post of governor of Bohemia to him- self, with numerous privileges. Ziska, who saw with much anxiety the dissensions prevail- ing among the Hussites, was not averse to a settlement ; but before negotiations were con- cluded he was taken ill while engaged in the siege of Przibislaw, and died. Ziska was victor in more than 100 engagements, and won 13 pitched battles. Once only, at Kremsir in Mo- ravia, he suffered a reverse; and even then all the evil consequences were warded off by the skilful manner in which he conducted his re- treat. The great stain upon his character was his cruelty. He considered himself the chosen instrument of the Lord to visit his wrath upon the nations, and a fanaticism which asked no mercy for its defenders gave none to its op- posers. His line of march could be traced through a country laid waste with fire and sword, and over the ruins of plundered towns. One of the dogmas held by his followers was, " that when all the cities of the earth should be burned down and reduced to the number of five, then would come the new kingdom of the Lord; therefore it was now the time of vengeance, and God was a God of wrath." The cries and groans of the monks and priests whom he sent to the stake he was wont to call the bridal song of his sister. His victories were generally won by the decisive charge of a chosen band of his followers named the in- vincible brethren. Ziska was buried in the church of Ozaslau, and over his tomb his iron battle axe, his favorite weapon, was suspended. In 1623 the tomb was overthrown by an im- perial order, and the bones of Ziska were re- moved. A common story that he ordered his body to be left to the dogs and kites, and that his skin should be used as a drum, and that it was so used by the Hussites in their subsequent wars, is a fable. ZITTAU, a town of the kingdom of Saxony, on the left bank of the Mandau, 26m. S. E. of Bautzen ; pop. in 1871, 17,869. It has the most beautiful town hall in Saxony, with a library of 30,000 volumes, and manufactories of cot- ton and woollen cloths and pianos, extensive bleaching grounds, iron works, and potteries. More than 1,000 persons are employed in the adjacent coal mines. '/Ml M, a city of Moravia, capital of a circle of the same name, and formerly of the prov- ince, 47 m. N. N. W. of Vienna; pop. in 1870, 10,600. It contains a gymnasium and a mili- tary academy of engineers. The church of St. Nicholas, built in the 14th century, and the town hall are among the most important build- ings. The town has considerable trade, chiefly in produce. Marmont here defeated the rear guard of the archduke Charles, retreating from Wagram, July 11, 1809, and the armistice fol- lowed by the treaty of Schonbrunn was con- cluded here on July 12. /o IK. a village of Lawrence township, Tus- carawas co., Ohio, on the left bank of Tuscara- was river and the Ohio canal, 2i m. N. of the Tuscarawas branch of the Cleveland and Pitts- burgh railroad, 90 m. E. N. E. of Columbus, and 65 m. S. by E. of Cleveland ; pop. in 1870, 326. The village was settled in 1817 by a com- munity of German immigrants from Wurtem- berg, under the principal leadership of Joseph M. Bimeler (originally Biiumeler), who died in 1853. They were incorporated in 1833, under the title of " The Society of Separatists of Zoar, O.," and are commercially known as the Zoar society. The system of the society is based on a community of property, with a board of three trustees for its commercial management, and a special committee of five members for its central (interior) government, elected by ballot annually. The tract of land now held is about 7,300 acres. The village is pleasantly situated on a moderately inclined plane, and contains a meeting house, a good school building and well conducted school, a public garden with greenhouse, a general storey a commodious hotel, a woollen factory, tan- nery, planing works, tin, wagon, blacksmith, cabinet, carpenter, and saddlery shops, bakery, dairy, &c. The principal business of the so- ciety is general farming, with raising and breeding of live stock. See *' The Communis- tic Societies of the United States," by Charles Nordhoff (New York, 1875). ZODIAC, an imaginary belt in the heavens, extending 9 N. and 9 S. of the ecliptic, with- in which the motions of the sun, moon, and principal planets are confined. It was divided by the ancients into 12 parts of 30 each, des- ignated and indicated by arbitrary signs as fol- lows : Aries, the Ram, p ; Taurus, the Bull, & ; Gemini, the Twins, n ; Cancer, the Crab, 25 ; Leo, the Lion, SI ; Virgo, the Virgin, TIJ ; Libra, the Scales,.^; Scorpio, the Scorpion,