The+Thirty+Years'+War

Michelle Liu

__** Thirty Years’ War **__

Discuss the various events of the Thirty Years’ War and analyze the lasting effects of those events on Europe.

Civil war over religion in Germany à continental conflagration involving territorial/political ambitions


 * German Catholics and Protestants- Protestant Union and Catholic League
 * Germany divided between Lutheran and Catholic sates à New Calvinism

Bohemian Phase
 * Protestant forces under Frederick V defeated at White Mountain
 * Ferdinand II of Habsburg elected emperor- confiscated lands of rebellious Bohemian nobles, redistributed them, Counter-Reformation
 * Catholic forces victorious

Danish Phase
 * Christian IV- Lutheran king supported Protestant cause to gain territory in Baltic
 * Edict of Restitution- returned all confiscated Church lands= angered Protestant/Catholic nobles who gained from confiscation

Swedish Phase
 * Gustavus Adolphus- revive Protestant cause and secure trade
 * Peace of Prague- Ferdinand III à did not end fighting- conflict devolved into continental struggle between Spanish Habsburgs vs. Swedes and French

Franco-Swedish Phase
 * Battle of Rocroi- French defeated Spanish= rise in military power
 * Philip IV of Spain- against France


 * Peace of Westphalia- HRE no longer played role in affairs of central Europe, recognized independence of Switzerland and Dutch Republic= shift in balance of power
 * Strong: France, Sweden, Prussia, Dutch
 * Wear: HRE, Spain
 * Warfare: German population decline, economic troubles, desolation of towns from war
 * Military revolution- gunpowder, mounted foot-soldier, volleys, flexible tactics, lighter/mobile cavalry, Gustavus Adolphus, government ability to pay for wars

N.A. "The Thirty Years War." //Thirty Years' War.// Chris Atkinson. 14 Dec. 2005. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.  Trueman, Chris. "Thirty Years War." //History Learning Site//. n.p. n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. 