MU #3 - Thirty Years War

How did the 30 Years War begin?

It began as a religious battle between the Protestants and Catholics.

• in 1618 when Holy Roman Emperor Ferinand II tried to impose religious uniformity in the HRE, even though it was a violation of the Peace of Augsburg

  • so the Protestant princes united against the Emperor and got aid from England

Who helped Ferdinand (Catholics) in this conflict?

1. Spain

2. Austria

3. Italy

4. Poland

5. Hungarians

Who helped Protestants?

1. Saved by the Protestant Swedens, who expanded their territoial holdings in Northern Europe at the expense of HRE

2. King of Sweden: Gustavas Adolphus, was a great military mind who used combined force & support of various military types

3. Dutch, English, Russians

Who unexpectedly joined the Protestants?

Catholic France

• Because their goal wasn’t religious, but, instead if focused on gaining poltical power and strength by helping defeat the Hasburg Spain & the HRE (its main opps)

What was a common theme in Early modern Era?

• conflicts becoming political as opposed to religious 

• states began to exploit religious conflicts for political gain

What is the Peace of Westphalia, when did it happen?

• in 1648

• when all ambassadors from participating nations of the conflict were sent to Westphalia to negotiate the surrender of the Catholic side as Spain had gone bankrupt

• cause: entrance of Sweden & England was too much for Catholics

What was the impact of the Peace of Westphalia?

• Spain and France got a lot of profit, as they took land from the Catholic portions of Spain

• Netherlands also gained independence from Spain in 1648

• Germany princes of the HRE could choose any religion and were free of mean HREmperor

Impacts of the War

• last religious war in Europe

1. marked how conflicts now focused on The Balance of Power

2. peace talks now invovled members from ALL parts of the conflict

3. proved that large, centralized states with large-scale taxation and standing armies were superior to decentralized states

4. Spain and HRE would not be relevant poweres in Europe and wtv power they had would be focused on (defeating Ottoms in Eur) & (fighting in Hungaray & Balkans)

5. 1/3 of all German ppl died cuz of war