The Thirty Years The Thirty Years WarWar

1618-16481618-1648

By: Will Fordham and Adrian Crace

OriginsOrigins There were numerous problems There were numerous problems

and conflicts that contributed to and conflicts that contributed to the Thirty Years War. One was the the Thirty Years War. One was the conflict between Protestants and conflict between Protestants and Catholics, which had divided the Catholics, which had divided the population of many European population of many European countries. The war began as a countries. The war began as a religious war but there were some religious war but there were some political motives. Some non-political motives. Some non-religious contributing factors religious contributing factors were: Spain was interested in were: Spain was interested in German territory because it German territory because it bordered the Spanish-Netherlands bordered the Spanish-Netherlands and it would connect those lands and it would connect those lands to Spanish states in Italy. Another to Spanish states in Italy. Another reason is France wanted to reason is France wanted to exercise its power over the exercise its power over the weaker German states. Sweden weaker German states. Sweden and Denmark wanted the German and Denmark wanted the German states as well.states as well.

WhoWho

► The thirty years war involved many of the European The thirty years war involved many of the European powers. They were: Sweden, Bohemia, Denmark-powers. They were: Sweden, Bohemia, Denmark-Norway, Dutch Republic, France, Scotland, England, Norway, Dutch Republic, France, Scotland, England, Saxony, Transylvania, Holy Roman Empire, and Saxony, Transylvania, Holy Roman Empire, and Spain. They were divided between Protestant and Spain. They were divided between Protestant and Catholic. Sweden, Bohemia, Denmark-Norway, Catholic. Sweden, Bohemia, Denmark-Norway, Dutch Republic, France, Scotland, Saxony and Dutch Republic, France, Scotland, Saxony and Transylvania were mostly protestant. The Holy Transylvania were mostly protestant. The Holy Roman Empire and Spain were Catholic.Roman Empire and Spain were Catholic.

Where

The war started in Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic) and quickly spread throughout Europe. Most of the fighting was in Germany (because it was a desirable piece of land to other European countries) and Bohemia.

WhenWhen

The Thirty years began at a The Thirty years began at a time when conflict between time when conflict between Protestants and Catholics was Protestants and Catholics was high. The war began in 1618 high. The war began in 1618 and ended thirty years later in and ended thirty years later in 1648. The war was fought in 1648. The war was fought in phases, all of which were in phases, all of which were in close periods of time. To begin close periods of time. To begin the war was the Bohemian the war was the Bohemian revolt (1618-1622), followed revolt (1618-1622), followed by the Danish intervention by the Danish intervention (1625-1629). Then came the (1625-1629). Then came the Swedish intervention (1630-Swedish intervention (1630-1635), which preceded the 1635), which preceded the French intervention (1636-French intervention (1636-1648).1648).

Second Defenestration of Prague

WhyWhy► The Thirty Years war started with the Bohemian The Thirty Years war started with the Bohemian

revolt which began with the Second revolt which began with the Second Defenestration of Prague. This was when Defenestration of Prague. This was when Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor (who was Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor (who was Catholic) became the King of both Bohemia and Catholic) became the King of both Bohemia and Hungary (mostly Protestant nations). The Hungary (mostly Protestant nations). The Protestants were very angry that a Catholic was Protestants were very angry that a Catholic was ruling them. Ferdinand sent ruling them. Ferdinand sent two Catholic two Catholic councilors as his representatives to head the councilors as his representatives to head the government in his absence to Hradcany Castle in government in his absence to Hradcany Castle in Prague in May, 1618. When they arrived, Prague in May, 1618. When they arrived, Bohemian Protestants seized them and threw Bohemian Protestants seized them and threw them out a 50 foot window in the castle. them out a 50 foot window in the castle. Amazingly the two survived the fall because they Amazingly the two survived the fall because they landed in a pile of manure. This event caused landed in a pile of manure. This event caused Protestants in other parts of Bohemia and across Protestants in other parts of Bohemia and across Europe to battle Catholics, which began the Europe to battle Catholics, which began the Thirty Years War.Thirty Years War.

Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia

HowHow The Thirty Years war ended in 1648 under the term "the The Thirty Years war ended in 1648 under the term "the

Peace of Westphalia." This term actually was the basis for Peace of Westphalia." This term actually was the basis for the end of two wars: the Thirty Years War and the Eighty the end of two wars: the Thirty Years War and the Eighty Years War. This peace treaty declared that Ferdinand III lost Years War. This peace treaty declared that Ferdinand III lost all of the power he had illegitimately taken in violation of all of the power he had illegitimately taken in violation of the Holy Roman Empire's constitution. This allowed the the Holy Roman Empire's constitution. This allowed the German states to determine the religion of their states. German states to determine the religion of their states. Also, Catholics and Protestants were defined as equals Also, Catholics and Protestants were defined as equals before law, and Calvinism became legally recognized.before law, and Calvinism became legally recognized.

Ferdinand III Ratification of the

Treaty

WhatWhat Obviously, the war that went on for Obviously, the war that went on for

30 years is going to have an effect on 30 years is going to have an effect on the population, economy, and the population, economy, and landscape of central Europe. landscape of central Europe. Germany had a decrease in Germany had a decrease in population by approx. 25%. Tens of population by approx. 25%. Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in thousands of soldiers were killed in action, and many more -including action, and many more -including civilians- were killed by the merciless civilians- were killed by the merciless spread of disease and famine. But the spread of disease and famine. But the war served some good outcomes for war served some good outcomes for many countries such as the Dutch many countries such as the Dutch Republic, Switzerland, Savoy, Milan, Republic, Switzerland, Savoy, Milan, Genoa, Mantua, Tuscany, Lucca, Genoa, Mantua, Tuscany, Lucca, Modena and Parma, who all gained Modena and Parma, who all gained recognition of their independence. recognition of their independence. France, also, gained a lot of land, France, also, gained a lot of land, allowing them to stretch their borders allowing them to stretch their borders rather than shrink them. The Thirty rather than shrink them. The Thirty Years War also marked then end of Years War also marked then end of widespread use of mercenaries, widespread use of mercenaries, because countries started to train because countries started to train soldiers from their own nations. The soldiers from their own nations. The war also marked the end or war also marked the end or widespread use of pikes when armies widespread use of pikes when armies started to use guns. started to use guns.