The Thirty Years War
(1618-1648)
The Peace of Augsburg (1555)
It officially ended the religious struggle
between the Protestants and Catholics
within Germany.
 German princes could select either
Lutheranism or Catholicism within the
domains.
 Subjects, citizens, or residents were free
to migrate to different regions in which
their desired religion had been accepted.

Tensions Rise in Germany
Catholics

Jesuits took militant
approaches to
converting Protestant
Princes.
Protestants

Acquired bishoprics,
upsetting Catholics
Calvinism
Never were dealt with
in the Treaty
 Converted many
Princes to Calvinism

Sides are Taken
1608, Lutheran Princes formed the
Protestant Union.
 1609, Catholics created the Catholic
League.
 Both sides were interested in Religious
expansion while stopping the other.
 In addition, Austria and Spain (both
Hapsburgs) sought to unite the empire
and return all to Catholicism.

1. The Bohemian Phase
Ferdinand II, King of
Bohemia, closes
Protestant churches in
Prague.
 Ferdinand II defeats
Frederick and the P.U.
at the Battle of White
Mountain.
 Within 10 years,
Bohemia was totally
converted to
Catholicism.

2. Danish Phase
Catholics led by Albert of Wallenstein was
victorious in Silesia, Schleswig, the Baltic
and Pomerania.
 In 1629, Jesuits push for the issuing of
the Edict of Restitution:

– All lost properties were to be restored to the
Catholics.
– Only Catholics and Protestants could practice
their faith.
3. Swedish Phase
Sweden enters under
King Gustavus
Adolphus (Protestant)
 Scores a number of
victories for the
Protestant cause.
 Funded by the French
(Why?)

4. International Phase
1635, in order to keep
France strong,
Cardinal Richelieu,
along with Sweden,
Dutch, Scots, Finns
and Germans declare
war on Spain.
 Germany was burnt,
looted, and utterly
destroyed.

• German population decreased by upwards of 30%
• Famine, Typhus and the Plague contributed to the
death total.
• Worst disaster in German / European history before
the 20th Century.
The Peace of Westphalia
Read Part B on pages 92 and 93 of the
Worksheets.
 Complete the questions.

The Peace of Westphalia

Signed in 1648; ended the 30 years war.
– A weak Germany continued under a
federation of states that shared power with
the emperor. (France, Sweden win power and
land)
– Stopped the papacy from participating in
German religion.
– Calvinism included in 1555 Treaty of
Augsburg.
Germany Afterwards
Economic crisis hits.
 Farm workers, with out capital to restore
their lands, were bought out by wealth
nobles.
 Many laborers returned to a new system
of serfdom.
