Background
Philip II (Spain) rebuilding his fleet Henry IV (France) Reconstruction of
France Elizabeth I (England) Savoring the
Spanish defeat The Dutch Recovering and building
trading empire…Beginning of their Golden Age
Remember 1555 Peace of Augsburg
Made no provision for Calvinists Undermined the authority of the
HRE in Lutheran states
Over time, Other Problems
Lutherans continued to make gains in other German states (in violation of the Peace of Augsburg)
Jesuits having some success converting Lutherans back to Catholicism
Calvinists began to convert German Princes
Lutherans feared being overwhelmed by Catholics and Calvinists
Lutherans and Catholics
Were determined to stop the advances of the other
1608 Lutherans formed the Protestant League
1609 Catholics formed the Catholic League
In the Meantime…
Charles V had abdicated and died Had divided the Hapsburg family
into two branches
Philip II (son): Spain, Spanish Netherlands, American colonies, Italian Provinces
Ferdinand I (brother): Imperial title (HRE) and central Europe (Austria, etc)
Ferdinand I’s grandson, Matthias
Had no direct heir so cousin, Ferdinand of Styria (II) got the title in 1619
In 1617 Ferdinand of Styria was elected King of Bohemia
Also gained jurisdiction over Silesia and Moravia
Groups in Bohemia
Catholics and Lutherans, and Calvinists, and Hussites
Were Bohemian and German
Ferdinand made a move to close Protestant Churches in Bohemia
The Defenestration of Prague
May 1618 Protestants threw 2 of Ferdinand’s officials out a castle window
A 70 foot drop! But survived! A miracle…Catholics said they were
saved by angels Protestants said they survived
because they fell into a huge pile of manure
Thus began the 30 Years’ War
Most important war in the 17th Century
Four Phases: Bohemian Danish Swedish International (French and others)
Bohemian Phase 1618-1625
Civil War Catholic League led by Ferdinand of
Styria Protestant Union led by Frederick of
the Palatinate
Bohemians wanted religious freedom and independence from Hapsburg rule
1618
Bohemians deposed Ferdinand and gave crown to Frederick
1620 The Battle of White Mountain: Frederick was defeated by Catholic forces
Within 10 years Protestantism was wiped out of Bohemia, Forced conversions…Jesuits involved
Phase II Danish Phase 1625-1629
Albert of Wallenstein led Catholic Imperial Army
Protestant League led by inept King Christian IV of Denmark
Wallenstein kicked butt BUT Hapsburgs came to rely too much on
him Wallenstein’s army was loyal to
HIM…not Hapsburgs
Wallenstein
Kept the territory he conquered for himself and his men
Caused clash with Hapsburgs Catholic forces became divided Danes lost anyway
1629 Ferdinand of Styria issued…
The Edict of Restitution
All Catholic properties lost since 1552 to be restored
Think…Peace of Augsburg 1555!
Wallenstein ruthlessly enforced edict
Phase III Swedish Phase 1630-35
Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus very capable
Controlled Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Baltic States…was Lutheran
Came to Germany: To aid family members (Dukes of
Mecklenburg) who had been exiled To aid oppressed Protestants
France entered unofficially
Louis XIII and minister Richelieu sent aid to Adolphus
NOTE: no longer a religious war since France entered on the side of Lutherans (again)
NOTE: Again religion took a back seat to politics…keep Germany divided
Victories for Swedes:
Battle of Breitenfeld Battle at Lutzen
BUT Adolphus was killed at Lutzen Swedes lost in 1634 Battle of
Nordling
Hapsburgs hoped to unite all German states under Hapsburg control….
Phase IV The International Phase
1635-48 Enter the French But this time Hapsburgs v Bourbons
Also others: Dutch, Swedes, Scots, Fins, German mercenaries (note: Calvinists, too)
Germany was trashed
The war lasted so long
Because nether side had the resources to win a quick victory
Many treaties involved Were combined into one big one…
The Peace of Westphalia
Was a turning point in European political, religious, and social history
30 Year’s War was the last religious war Recognition of over 300 sovereign
German States… HRE titular power only Pope had NO authority New Peace of Augsburg…included
Calvinists
The Peace of Westphalia
All acknowledged independence of the United Provinces of the Netherlands
Switzerland gained independence France gained prestige and
territory: Alsace Sweden: cash and jurisdiction over
German territory along Baltic Sea International status to Brandenburg
(Prussia)
Germany
The 30 Year’s War was the most destructive event in Germany until the wars of the 20th Century
½ of urbanites and 2/5 of rural Germans perished
Entire areas were depopulated
Late 16th early 17th Centuries
an economic crisis in all of Europe Inflation due to silver coming in from
S. America Problems worse in Germany than
anywhere else Losses in agriculture, livestock,
trade
Transportation routes had shifted during the war
Population decrease
Caused labor to be more costly Nobles bought up small landholdings
and created large estates
Some areas saw the rise of new serfdom