[106], The war has been described as one of the greatest medical catastrophes in history. During 1629, another 274 suspected witches were killed in the Bishopric of Eichstätt, plus another 50 in the adjacent Duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg. [16] Related conflicts include the Eighty Years War, the War of the Mantuan Succession, the Franco-Spanish War, and Portuguese Restoration War. All across Europe, but mostly in central Germany WHO? An overland route connecting Habsburg possessions in Italy to Flanders, it allowed him to move troops and supplies by road, rather than sea where the Dutch navy held the advantage. [57], Once again, the methods used to obtain victory explain why the war failed to end. While this gave them seats in the Imperial Diet, it also brought them conflict with both Brandenburg-Prussia and Saxony, who were competitors in Pomerania. The origins of the conflict and goals of the participants were complex, and no single cause can accurately be described as the main reason for the fighting. The Imperial army under Gallas retreated into Bohemia, pursued by Torstenson, whose victory at Jankau in March 1645 allowed him to threaten both Prague and Vienna. Two Roman Catholic armies, the emperor’s and the League’s, converged on the kingdom, routing Frederick at the White Mountain in November 1620 and replacing the regime of the estates in Bohemia…, In 1620, following the defeat of Frederick V (the elector palatine, or prince, from the Rhineland who had accepted the crown of Bohemia when it was offered to him in 1618) and the Bohemians, Spanish troops from the Netherlands entered the “Winter…. A brief treatment of the Thirty Years’ War follows. Timeline of the Thirty Years War. With the exception of England's short cameo, pretty much everyone had a prominent role to play RELEASED? [67] He won major victories at Breitenfeld in September 1631, then Rain in April 1632, where Tilly was killed. This influential work was later credited with ending the practice in Germany, and eventually throughout Europe. It was a conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire, which is now Germany. Brandenburg-Prussia received Farther Pomerania, and the bishoprics of Magdeburg, Halberstadt, Kammin, and Minden. [20], While Emperors were elected, since 1440 this had been a Habsburg, the largest single landowner within the Empire; their lands included the Archduchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Kingdom of Hungary, with over eight million subjects. [41], Spanish chief minister Olivares correctly interpreted this as an invitation to open negotiations, and in return for an Anglo-Spanish alliance offered to restore Frederick to his Rhineland possessions. Gustavus Adolphus despatched several thousand Scots and Swedish troops under Alexander Leslie to Stralsund, who was appointed governor. For full treatment, see Europe, history of: The Thirty Years’ War. Brandenburg-Prussia (1631–1635)[note 1] The war ended with a series of treaties collectively called as “Treaty of Westphalia” (1648). There are four scenarios provided: the Full Campaign (14 turns), Early War (5 turns), Intervention (3 turns), and Apocalypse (5 turns). From the Bohemian rebellion to the Swedish intervention led by Gustavus Adolphus, from Denmark to the Palatinate, players can now recreate the Campaigns of Lützen, Nördlingen and Rocroi. [24], One outcome was the formation of the Protestant Union, led by Frederick IV and largely composed of states in Southern Germany, to which Maximilian responded by setting up the Catholic League in July 1609. The social and economic impact of the Thirty Years War varied throughout Europe. [80], After Wittstock, the Swedish army regained the initiative in Germany; at Second Breitenfeld in October 1642, Swedish commander Lennart Torstenson defeated an Imperial army led by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria and Ottavio Piccolomini. At the same time, the Swedes under Johan Banér marched into Brandenburg; victory at Wittstock on 4 October 1636 regained most of the ground lost after Nördlingen. In May, a combined Franco-Swedish army destroyed the last major Imperial army at Zusmarshausen, while a second Swedish force besieged Prague. It also provided opportunities for external opponents of the Habsburgs, including the Ottoman Empire and Savoy. It’s easiest to see the war containing several faces and phases. [128], The benefits of Westphalia for the Swedes proved short-lived. Spanish Empire [90] Combined with the diversion of Imperial resources caused by Swedish intervention in 1630, this led to the Treaty of Cherasco in June 1631. Gustavus signed an alliance with Bogislaw XIV, Duke of Pomerania, securing his interests in Pomerania against the Catholic Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, another Baltic competitor linked to Ferdinand by family and religion. In practice, it was a series of separate yet connected international and internal conflicts waged by regular and irregular military forces, partisan groups, private armies and conscripts. The Thirty Years' War represented a major step backward in military tactics and professionalism, although this cou… Catholic France also entered the war, but not on the Catholic side. On 24 October, Ferdinand finally signed peace treaties with France and Sweden; the Swedes retreated from Prague, but not before looting many valuable treasures, including the Codex Gigas, today preserved in Stockholm. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. The combination destabilised large parts of the Empire. The Thirty Years’ War, from 1618-1648, was a tumultuous period of battles, revolt, famine, disease, and religious conflict in Europe. In the October 1619 Treaty of Munich, Ferdinand agreed to transfer the Palatinate's electoral vote to Bavaria and allow him to annex the Upper Palatinate. The chief agents of the Counter-Reformation were similarly split, the Jesuits generally backing Austria, the Capuchins France. The Thirty Years’ War was a dark page in European history that was associated with a remapping of the continent. Imperial Armies of the Thirty Years’ War (1): Infantry and artillery (Men-at-Arms) by Vladimir Brnardic and Darko Pavlovic | Oct 27, 2009. These are the 400th anniversary of the start of the Thirty Years’ War… Five days later, the Prince de Condé won a decisive French victory at Rocroi, although he was unable to take full advantage. When Ferdinand was elected king of Bohemia in 1617, he gained control of its electoral vote; however, his conservative Catholicism made him unpopular with the largely Protestant Bohemian nobility, who were also concerned at the erosion of their rights. [60] With French resources tied up in Italy, he helped negotiate the September 1629 Truce of Altmark between Sweden and Poland, freeing Gustavus Adolphus to enter the war. Corrections? Although the struggles that created it erupted some years earlier, the war is conventionally held to have begun in 1618, when the future Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand II, in his role as king of Bohemia, attempted to impose Roman Catholic absolutism on his domains, and the Protestant nobles of both Bohemia and Austria rose up in rebellion. The standing army was scarcely a novel … For the outbreak of the war the deepening crisis of the Holy Roman Empire was of crucial importance. Although the majority of Germany suffered from famine and economic ruin, there were regions that came out of the war … Eventually, more than 200 states, great and small, participated in the Thirty Years’ War. The Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand first required the return of all property taken from the Catholic church since 1552, rather than leaving the courts to decide case by case as previously. [96], Externally, the treaties formally acknowledged the independence of the Dutch Republic and the Swiss Confederacy, effectively autonomous since 1499. This resulted in a Gordian tangle of alliances as princes and prelates called in foreign powers to aid them. [129], Arguably, France gained more from the Thirty Years' War than any other power; by 1648, most of Richelieu's objectives had been achieved. [93], This was accompanied by a struggle for control in the East Indies and Africa, increasing Portuguese resentment against the Spanish, who were perceived as prioritising their own colonies. The Thirty Years' War was one of the greatest and longest armed contests of the early modern period. [23], As a result, when the Imperial Diet opened in February 1608, the Protestants demanded formal confirmation of the Augsburg settlement, which was especially significant for Calvinists like Frederick IV, Elector Palatine who had not been included. Thirty Years' War. There was little serious fighting after France took control of Perpignan and Roussillon, establishing the modern Franco-Spanish border in the Pyrenees. [95], The Peace of Münster was the first to be signed on 30 January 1648; it was part of Westphalia because the provinces that made up the Dutch Republic were still technically part of the Spanish Netherlands and thus Imperial territories. The chaotic warfare led to a large number of casualties and devastated entire regions. 2. A few days later, Ferdinand withdrew the Edict and signed the Peace of Prague, dissolving the Heilbronn and Catholic Leagues, and creating a single Imperial army, although Saxony and Bavaria retained control of their own forces. [72], Defeat at Nördlingen threatened Sweden's participation, leading Richelieu to intervene directly. • Vida y hechos de Estebanillo González, hombre de buen humor, compuesta por él mismo (Antwerp, 1646): The last of the great Spanish Golden Age picaresque novels, this is set against the background of the Thirty Years' War. 30 YEARS WAR is the soundtrack of a bloody grinding train wreck. Each member was represented in the Imperial Diet; prior to 1663, this assembled on an irregular basis, and was primarily a forum for discussion, rather than legislation. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The principal battlefield for all these intermittent conflicts was the towns and principalities of Germany, which suffered severely. Intended as the basis of a wider coalition against Ferdinand, France, Sweden, Savoy and the Republic of Venice were also invited to join, but it was overtaken by events. Ferdinand won after a five-year struggle. It entered the war against the emperor and against Spain on the side of Protestant allies. It was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, and one of the longest continuous wars in modern history. Prompted by France, the rebels proclaimed the Catalan Republic in January 1641. While Spain remained the dominant power in Italy, its reliance on long exterior lines of communication was a potential weakness, especially the Spanish Road; this overland route allowed them to move recruits and supplies from Naples and Lombardy to their army in Flanders. [40], The strategic importance of the Palatinate and its proximity to the Spanish Road drew in external powers; in August 1620, the Spanish occupied the Lower Palatinate. After the recent victory of the Catholics, Denmark felt that it's sovereignty as a Protestant country would be threatened. The Thirty Years War is a war fought in the pre-industrial age, so loss of human life and indeed of animals cannot be replaced by machinery. Chronic financial weakness meant prior to 1619 the Austrian Habsburgs had no standing army of any size, leaving them dependent on Maximilian and their Spanish relatives for money and men. The Thirty Years’ War was a European continental war that took place from 1618-1648 (thirty years!). [80], In September 1645, the Swedes agreed a six-month truce with Saxony; Ferdinand accepted a military solution was no longer possible, and in October ordered his diplomats to begin serious negotiations at Westphalia. Here, in the heartland of Europe, three denominations vied for dominance: Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism. 1618-1648 - what a pleasing timeframe! By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [55] Von Arnim was forced to lift the siege on 4 August, but three weeks later, Christian suffered another defeat at Wolgast. [104], Historians often refer to the 'General Crisis' of the mid-17th century, a period of sustained conflict in states such as China, the British Isles, Tsarist Russia and the Holy Roman Empire. Christian retained his German possessions of Schleswig and Holstein, in return for relinquishing Bremen and Verden, and abandoning support for the German Protestants. [81], In 1643, Frederick III of Denmark re-entered the conflict as an Imperial ally, threatening the Swedes with a war on two fronts. [129], Bautzen is besieged by Saxon troops, 1620 by Matthäus Merian, Battle of Frankfurt an der Oder,April 1631, Death of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden at the Battle of Lützen,6 November 1632, The capture of Rheinfelden by the troops of the Duke of Feria,1633, Unsuccessful Swedish-Transylvanian siege of Brno, 1645, 1618–1648 multi-state war in Central Europe, Phase II; France joins the war 1635 to 1648. This seemed confirmed when Tilly's Catholic League army occupied Halberstadt in early 1625. [64] Despite the devastation inflicted on their territories by Imperial soldiers, both Saxony and Brandenburg had their own ambitions in Pomerania, which clashed with those of Gustavus; previous experience also showed inviting external powers into the Empire was easier than getting them to leave. Denmark–Norway (1625–29) Christian’s defeat and the Peace of Lübeck in 1629 finished Denmark as a European power, but Sweden’s Gustav II Adolf, having ended a four-year war with Poland, invaded Germany and won many German princes to his anti-Roman Catholic, anti-imperial cause. This is generally seen as the point when the conflict ceased to be primarily a German civil war. Outcome of Thirty Years War The result of the thirty year war was that the German princes could choose their own religion, as long as it was one of the big three . [108], Parish records show regular outbreaks of these were common for decades prior to 1618, but the conflict greatly accelerated their spread. [99] Sweden received an indemnity of five million thalers, the Imperial territories of Swedish Pomerania, and Prince-bishoprics of Bremen and Verden; this gave them a seat in the Imperial Diet. Fighting did not end immediately, since demobilising over 200,000 soldiers was a complex business, and the last Swedish garrison did not leave Germany until 1654. In some areas in Europe, especially in Germany, the Thirty Years War had a devastating impact. In July 1620, the Protestant Union proclaimed its neutrality, while John George of Saxony agreed to back Ferdinand in return for Lusatia, and a promise to safeguard the rights of Lutherans in Bohemia. 30 years war 1618 1648 01 wallenstein s imperial army flags new thirty years war boxed sets new thirty years war boxed sets wallenstein s imperial army flags Battle Flags For The Thirty Years War League Of AugsburgBattle Flags For The Thirty Years War League Of AugsburgBaccus 6mm30yearswarTmp More Thirty Years War … Although von Hatzfeldt defeated a Swedish-English-Palatine force at Vlotho in October 1638, Breisach's surrender to Bernhard in December secured French control of Alsace and the Rhineland, severing the Spanish Road. He began negotiations with Wallenstein, who despite his recent victories was concerned by the prospect of Swedish intervention, and thus anxious to make peace. Wars over the years have changed dramatically, and American involvement in them has varied as well. AIDS The 30 years war. 4.6 out of 5 stars 31. The Thirty Years' War was one of the bloodiest events in European history — deadlier than the Black Death and World War II, in terms of the proportion of the population lost. He did so with support from the Catholic League, despite strong opposition from Protestant members, as well as the Spanish. The Thirty Years' War was fought from 1618 until 1648.Though it was primarily centered in Germany, several other countries became involved in the conflict, including France, Spain, and Sweden.In fact, almost all of the powerful countries in Europe were involved in the war… [38], By abandoning Frederick, the German princes hoped to restrict the dispute to Bohemia, but Maximilian's dynastic ambitions made this impossible. In 1621, the Dutch West India Company was formed to challenge this control and captured the Brazilian port of Salvador in 1624. Almost four centuries on, the Thirty Years’ War … [66] Payments amounted to 400,000 Reichstaler, or one million livres per year, plus an additional 120,000 Reichstalers for 1630. The Peace of Augsburg (1555), signed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, confirmed the result of the 1526 Diet of Speyer, ending the war between German Lutherans and Catholics, and establishing that: 1. Denmark was a Lutheran/Protestant country at the time of the 30 Years' War. Although opposition to this act united all German princes regardless of religion, Maximilian of Bavaria was compromised by his acquisition of the Palatinate; while Protestants wanted Frederick restored and the position returned to that of 1618, the Catholic League argued only for pre-1627. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) is described as a period of intense and extremely disruptive conflict in Germany and Europe. Of the 30,000 citizens, only 5,000 survived. Funded by Frederick and the Duke of Savoy, a mercenary army under Ernst von Mansfeld succeeded in stabilising the Bohemian position over the winter of 1618. [102], The settlement failed to achieve its stated intention of achieving a 'universal peace'; Mazarin insisted on excluding the Burgundian Circle from the treaty of Münster, allowing France to continue its campaign against Spain in the Low Countries, a war that continued until the 1659 Treaty of the Pyrenees. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was a series of wars principally fought in Central Europe, involving most of the countries of Europe. [130] Although the Franco-Spanish conflict continued until 1659 and Spain remained a global force for another two centuries, Westphalia allowed Louis XIV of France to complete the process of replacing her as the predominant European power. [33], Spanish involvement inevitably drew in the Dutch, and potentially France, although the strongly Catholic Louis XIII faced his own Protestant rebels at home and refused to support them elsewhere. Which suffered severely a victory which secured Barcelona was a series of defeats IV of,. 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