The Thirty Years' War 1618-1648

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• Ferdinand of Styria

  • Rabid Catholic, intolerant of Protestantism

  • Direct control over Bohemia and Austria

• Defenestration of Prague

  • Rebellion against Ferdinand II

  • Nobility rebelled, cornered advisors, and tossed them out the window

• Election of Ferdinand II

  • Chosen as the next Holy Roman Emperor by electors in 1619

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• Bohemian Revolt

  • Frederick elected as king after ousting Ferdinand

  • Frederick's shortcomings and challenges in the war

• Ferdinand's Allies

  • Bavaria, Spain, and Saxony supported Ferdinand

• Battle of White Mountain

  • Bavarians routed the Bohemians

• Soldiers of Fortune

  • Ernst von Mansfeld prominent mercenary captain

  • Switched sides for the highest bidder

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• Intervention of Other German Princes

  • Christian IV of Denmark entered the war

• Reorganization by Ferdinand II

  • Redistributed land, suppressed rebellion

• Albrecht von Wallenstein

  • Soldier of fortune, contracted by Ferdinand

  • Edict of Restitution issued by Ferdinand

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• Wallenstein's Actions

  • Cooperated with Bavarian general Tilly

  • Occupied various territories and commanded a large army

• Sweden's Entry

  • Adolphus entered to protect German Protestantism

• Imperial Diet of 1630

  • Ferdinand's ambitious requests were refused

• Cardinal Richelieu's Support

  • Subsidized Adolphus' invasion of Germany

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• Gustavus Adolphus' Military Innovations

  • New army tactics and strategies

  • Improved infantry, cavalry, and artillery

• Standing Army

  • Consequences of advancements in training, discipline, and technology

• Increase in Troop Numbers

  • Evolution of troop numbers over the centuries

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• Battles and Victories

  • Swedes victorious at various battles

• Battle of Breitenfeld

  • Swedes defeat the imperial army decisively

• Battle of Lutzen

  • Gustavus Adolphus killed, leading to a deadlock in the war

Note

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• Wallenstein's actions in 1633 and 1634

  • Wallenstein campaigned briefly but sought a better offer

  • Became ill, leading to his dismissal by Ferdinand II

  • New general instructed to capture Wallenstein

  • Mutiny by Wallenstein's officers at Pilsen

  • Wallenstein tried to escape but was cornered and killed

• Battle of Nordlingen in 1634

  • Imperial forces (Austrian) defeated the Swedes

• Entry of the French in 1635

  • French joined the war after Swedish defeat

  • War shifted to a Habsburg-Bourbon conflict

• Devastation in Germany during 1635-1648

  • Franco-Swedish armies dominant but did not deliver a decisive blow

  • German lands suffered from looting and devastation

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• Impact of the war on Germany's population

  • Marburg occupied 11 times, Magdeburg besieged 10 times

  • Peasants fled, leading to famine

  • German cities lost 1/3 of population, rural areas 2/5

  • Germany's population decreased by 7-8 million

• Peace negotiations and Peace of Westphalia (1648)

  • Confirmed peace of Augsburg

  • German princes gained power over religion in their territories

  • United Provinces granted independence

  • Habsburgs retained control but failed to increase imperial power

  • Changes in electoral votes and territories among German states

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• Territorial changes post Peace of Westphalia

  • France, Sweden, Brandenburg, Saxony, and others gained territories

  • Swiss confederation and Dutch republic recognized as independent

  • Spanish and Austrians gained no territory but Ferdinand III had more control

• Implications of the war

  • Ended wars of religion among great powers

  • Approximately 1/3 of the German population perished

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• No