Thirty Years’ War(1618-1648)

Based on this map of the HRE on the eve of the 30 Years’ War, what caused the war?

Causes

• Violations of Peace of Augsburg (1555) freak out Catholics and Protestants alike:– Lutheran acquisition of Catholic bishoprics– Spread of Calvinism– Jesuit reconversion of Lutheran princes

The Sides

• Protestant Union (1608)• Catholic League (1609)

The Goal

• Maintain land and influence … don’t let either side advance religiously or territorially

• Religious + political motives

4 Phases

1. Bohemian (1618-1625)2. Danish (1625-1629)3. Swedish (1630-1635)4. French / international (1635-1648)

It all began with my favorite historical event …

Phase 1: Bohemia

• Civil war in Bohemia:– Protestant Bohemians vs. Catholic Habsburgs– Catholic victory Protestantism eliminated in

Bohemia

Phase 2: Danish

• more Catholic victories• Albert of Wallenstein – leader of Catholic

forces, but more interested in his own gain• Edict of Restitution (1629) – reaffirmed

Augsburg; gave Catholics properties lost to Protestants

Phase 3: Swedish

• Protestant victories under Gustavus Adolphus

Phase 4: French/International

• French (Catholic) aid Protestant forces in HRE and declare war on Spain to weaken Habsburgs

• Int’l: German Protestants, Dutch, Swedes, Scots, Finns, France on Protestant side

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

***turning point: end of religious wars***1. recognized sovereignty of ≈300 German princes2. affirmed independence of United Provinces 3. French land gain (Alsace) + weakened HRE4. Swedish $$$ & land gain (German territories in

Baltic)5. ended papal participation in central Euro. religious

affairs6. affirmed Augsburg, + added Calvinism

Based on the next 2 maps, what can you conclude about the impact of the 30 Years’

War?

More Consequences

• destroyed agriculture & commerce• deaths: est. 1/3 urban + 2/5 rural ppl• nobles gained