The Thirty Years
War 1618-1648
Warm Up: Copy down these terms and leave
space next to each to fill in notes.
Key names, terms, and events:
Defenestration of Prague
Ferdinand II
Frederick V
Christian IV
Wallenstein
Edict of Restitution
Cardinal Richelieu
Gustavus Adolphus
Peace of Westphalia
Results/Effects of the War on Europe
The Thirty Years
War 1618-1648
The Thirty Years War is complex. But the main
conflict was between the different states who
had religious differences.
Here’s the basics before we get started…
It was a war over Catholic-Protestant Issues
And it was a war between the Hapsburg
empire and the various German states
Various countries from outside the region interfered or
actively fought in the war. Millions are dead by the time
it ends. Most of the fighting will be done in Germany.
France supported the Protestant states in
order to keep Germany weak, disunited, and
weaken the Habsburg Empire
Sweden and Denmark fought to support the
Protestant cause
Mercenaries from all over Europe
joined the different stages of the war.
The result was wide spread devastation and
destruction—the most destructive war up to
this point in history.
So let’s get started…
The war begins with the Defenestration of
Prague (1618)
Defenester: To throw out window
• First Defenestration of
Prague occurred when
supporters of martyred
Jan Huss threw out
members of the council
onto barbed pikes below.
Several were killed.
(1417)
Another Defenestration (1948)
The Latest Defenestration
In New York City, there
was an act of
defenestration
committed by a teacher
that resulted in a
student being thrown
out the window.
November 30, 2012 at
Xavier High School
The two Catholic emissaries were
thrown out the window, after a
heated argument with Bohemian
Protestant leaders
Phase 1 of the war
now begins:
The Bohemia Phase
(1618-1625)
The newest
Holy Roman
Emperor,
Ferdinand II,
moves into
Bohemia to
restore order
and
authority. He
is a devout
Catholic.
Bohemia looks for
help from the
Protestant Elector
Frederick V to
defend their cause.
Frederick will be
up against the
emperor,
Ferdinand.
Frederick leaves his
home in the Palatine
(Rhineland) to help
defend Bohemia!
Side note: Frederick was married to Elizabeth
Stuart, daughter of James I of England.
Catholic Bavaria is in relation to Bohemia
Frederick will flee after his defeat by the forces of
Catholic Bavaria at White Mountain.
After victory at Bohemia, Ferdinand reenforces his empire with Spanish troops.
The Spaniards flood into the Catholic
German States.
Ferdinand,
Holy Roman
Empire, and
the Habsburgs
win first stage
of war
Group Questions
1. What incident caused the war?
2. Who won the first stage of the war?
– The Catholics or the Protestants?
Phase 2: The Danish Phase (1625-1629)
•Ferdinand is elected as Holy
Roman Emperor again.
•He confiscates the lands of
the Bohemian nobles who
had joined Frederick’s cause
•Jesuits stream into Bohemia
to re-convert the Protestants
The Protestant Cause will now be taken up
by the King of Denmark, Christian IV, in
1625.
•He enters the fight
with a little aid from
the Protestant leaders
of England and
Holland
Ferdinand
appoints a new
army to counteract
the Danish threat.
He appoints
Albert of
Wallenstein
known as
“Wallenstein.”
Wallenstein, a former Protestant, recruits
and develops a professional army—
answerable to him, only. He quickly defeats
the Danish in 1629.
After the Danes are defeated, an Edict
of Restitution (1629) is declared. This
means that all church territories, that
were allowed to be Protestant under the
Peace of Augsburg (1555) are now
Catholic again.
Group Questions
3. Why is the Edict of Restitution such an
important declaration? What might happen
as a result of it?
4. Who was the leader of Denmark?
-Christian IV or Wallenstein?
5. Who was the leader of the Catholic army
appointed by Ferdinand
-Christian IV or Wallenstein?
Phase 3: The Swedish Phase (16301635)
•After the Danish Defeat, the
Catholics swarm over protestant
Germany.
•The Augsburg peace is ignored
•It seems as if the Reformation will be
undone.
Enter Gustavus Adolphus. . .
• Gustavus
Adolphus was
king of Sweden
• He was busy
fighting Poland
• Cardinal
Richelieu, the
Bishop of
France, lures
Adolphus into
taking up the
Protestant
cause.
Richelieu sends
money to
Sweden
Gustavus is busy
Fighting the Poles, but
Richelieu persuades him
To take up the Protestant
Cause. He does.
Hence, Catholic Bishop Richelieu of
Catholic France aids Protestants against
the Catholic Holy Roman Empire
Richelieu, you are the
ultimate backstabber…
Why thank you, Mr. O’Shea, but you see,
I can get others to fight my wars for me,
while I continue to strengthen France.
Gustavus Adolphus leaves his fighting in
Poland and now takes the leadership against
the Catholics
Who was Gustavus Adolphus?
• He was a
brilliant
leader
• He was
courageous
• He organized
the most
modern army
of its time
Under his leadership, Sweden wins victories.
Sadly, Adolphus is killed at the battle of Lutzen
in 1632.
Gustavus
Adolphus
remains a
great
historical
figure and
a Swedish
National
Hero.
After the Gustavus’ death, this stage of
the war weakens
•Wallenstein himself refuses to fight the
Swedes because he is furious about the
Spanish troops in Germany.
•He actually enters into secret talks with
the Protestants.
•Wallenstein is a loose cannon, and his
men are becoming disloyal and will attack
anyone…
Including him… Wallenstein is
assassinated by his own men.
Group Questions
6. What is one example of how this war is
becoming less about religion and more
about political motives?
7. Who was Gustavus Adolphus?
Phase 3 (continued): The Swedish &
French Phase (1635-1648)
•This time, Richelieu
comes out clearly on the
side of the Protestants
and supports the Swedes.
•France officially joins
the Protestant cause.
When France joins, the Spanish
retaliate! They sweep down from the
Spanish Netherlands and attack France!
When the Spanish attack, France moves
toward Spain! French troops move into
Catalonia spreading devastation.
Spanish Troops attack
from France from the
Spanish Netherlands
France retaliates
by attacking
Catalonia, Spain
Tides turn…
• The powers were too stacked up against the
Holy Roman Empire and Austrian Habsburgs
– Richelieu and France work against the Catholic
Church
– Adolphus’s army beats Wallenstein’s army
– French forces handily beat the Spanish
Germans view all this interference from Spain,
Sweden, France, and think: “Get Out!”
The Peace of Westphalia
•This becomes a huge peace conference
•The church (pope) is not involved,
nor does the pope sign the treaties
•Calvinism is added to the mix: now
there is Lutheranism, Catholicism,
and Calvinism
Results of The Peace of Westphalia…
The Holy Roman Empire’s power dissolves
New state system set up in Europe
States of Germany now have stronger
individual rights: Germany remains weak
and divided.
Between 3-7 million died in the
Thirty Years War
Germany was physically devastated by the war
Germany’s
separate
states will
hinder trade
and progress
for many
years. It will
not fully
unite until
1870.
England, Holland, and France will take
the lead in European trade, culture and
politics
Effects of The 30 Years War:
• It started as a religious war, but quickly turns into a
political battle
• Ends period of religious conflict
– Religious lines are drawn
– Catholics and Protestants mostly at peace after this
• France comes out on top
– Stronger, more powerful than ever before
• The Holy Roman Empire’s political power in central
Europe dissolves
• The Habsburgs are doomed
– Decline begins for once super-powerful family
• New state system emerges
– Marks the beginning of “modern Europe”
Group Questions
#8-10: List 3 results/effects of the Thirty
Years War on Europe.
8. ???
9. ???
10. ???