defenestration

violent act

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July 23, 2026

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Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. While it can refer to a literal act, it is also used metaphorically to describe a swift dismissal or expulsion from a position of power or office.12

The most famous historical instance is the Defenestration of Prague in 1618. During this event, Protestant Bohemians threw three Roman Catholic representatives of the Habsburg rulers out of a window of Prague Castle. This act violated religious liberties guaranteed by the Letter of Majesty and is considered a precursor to the Thirty Years' War. The individuals involved survived the fall, reportedly landing on manure. The word itself derives from the Latin words for "from" and "window".312

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Defenestration
Prague’s History of Literally Throwing Authority Out the Window
…home to a series of defenestrations, a term that refers to the act of throwing someone out of a window. Today it is more commonly used to describe the removal of someone from a position of power. But the two meanings are related, and the connection can be traced back…
Read More
…home to a series of defenestrations, a term that refers to the act of throwing someone out of a window. Today it is more commonly used to describe the removal of someone from a position of power. But the two meanings are related, and the connection can be traced back…
Read More