Download Roots of the War

Thirty Years’ War
The most important and bloodiest of the religious wars.
The first continental war in which all the major European nations were involved
Roots of the War:
The Peace of Augsburg of 1555 had brought a temporary truce in the religious conflict in the
German states. Lutherans, Catholics, and Calvinists (who were not recognized) were all
suspicious of each other.
The division of Germany into the Protestant Union (supported by the English, French, and
Dutch) the Catholic League (supported by Spain and the Hapsburg Empire).
Meanings of the War
A German Civil War (a struggle between emperors and the states of Germany)
A war of religion (Protestants vs. Catholics) and a struggle for the spread of Calvinism
A war that pitted the French (Bourbons) against the Hapsburgs and the Spanish against the
Dutch
An effort by Denmark and Sweden to extend control over the Baltic.
Characteristics of the War
 The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground.
 At the beginning  it was the Catholics vs. the Protestants.
 At the end  it was Habsburg power that was threatened.
 Resolved by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
Course of the Thirty Years War
BOHEMIAN PHASE: 1618-1621
1618: Defenestration of Prague; Bohemians rebel aided by the Transylvanians; Elector
Frederick of the Palatinate becomes King of Bohemia rebels march on Vienna - danger of
electoral college voting in a Protestant emperor Ferdinand appeals to Spain and Maximilian of
Bavaria
1620: Protestant Rebels crushed at the White Mountain
DANISH PHASE: 1621- 1630
1623: Bohemia ceded to the Hapsburg family Protestant countries alarmed - Finance
intervention by Christian IV of Denmark. Emperor, having no army, commissions Wallenstein
to fight for the Imperial cause Bavarians and Imperialists defeat Danes
1626: Northern Germany under Imperial hegemony. England and France withdraw from the war
1629: Edict of Restitution is issued, ordering the restoration of all Catholic lands lost since
1552
SWEDISH PHASE: 1630- 1632
1630: Swedish Intervention by Gustavus Adolphus
1631: Tilly routed at Breitenfeld
1632: Wallenstein recalled. Gustavus killed at Lutzen.
1634: Wallenstein murdered; Swedes defeated at Nordlingen; Ferdinand makes peace in
Germany, abandons Edict of Restitution
FRENCH PHASE: 1632-1648
1635: France officially enters the war against Spain, with Holland and Sweden.
1643: Battle of Rocroi - Spanish army of Flanders destroyed
1648: Treaty of Westphalia confirmed independence of German princes with the setttlement of
'pro rege, pro religio' - as the ruler, so the religion (this time Calvinists are included)
1659: Treaty of the Pyrenees ends the war between France and Spain
PEACE OF WESTPHALIA
Short Term Consequences
•Sweden acquired western Pomerania (see map on p.441), France annexed part of Alsace &
Lorraine and some nearby territory (in other words, they both got land in the H.R.E.)
•Recognized the independence of the Dutch Republic and Switzerland and granted the German
states the right to raise armies, and make treaties & alliances, further weakening the authority of
the Holy Roman emperor.
•Expanded the Peace of Augsburg to include Calvinists, as well as Catholics and Lutherans.
•Ended the Holy Roman emperor's hope of restoring both his own power and the Catholic faith
throughout the empire. The empire was now fragmented into a number of virtually independent
states (300 different princes). Germany will not be unified until the 19th century
•Papacy was denied the right to participate in German religious affairs, a restriction which
symbolized the reduced role of the Church in European politics.
•The end of the Thirty Years' War left Hapsburg Spain isolated.
•The French war against Spain continued until 1659, when the Treaty of the Pyrenees awarded
France part of the Spanish Netherlands and some territory in northern Spain. King Philip IV of
Spain agreed to the marriage of his daughter Maria Theresa to King Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715)
of France (next chapter)
•Together, the Peace of Westphalia and the Treaty of the Pyrenees established France as the
predominant power on the European continent.
Long Term Consequences
•Permanent settlement of religions in the H.R.E. (Lutheran--North; Calvinism--along the Rhine;
Catholic--South)
•Ended the Wars of Religion and shifted to wars for national security, commercial ambition, or
dynastic pride.
•Disaster for German economy and society. 30-40% of population died and entire areas were
depopulated. War was partially responsible for severe economic recession that gripped Europe
for decades as 8 million Europeans were killed.
•Growth of state authority--raising of larger armies, higher taxes, bureaucracy, etc. Also, rulers
cultivated their image (“clothes make the man”). State funerals, huge palaces, etc. added to the
power and glory of the ruler.
•The concept of BALANCE OF POWER emerges as a force in Europe (war to ensure that one
power did not dominate the continent)