30 Years War
1618-1648
summary
The thirty years war was a war of religion specifically starting as Catholics vs. Protestants in Germany. The peace of Augsburg was a treaty created in 1555 that created a short lived official agreement between Charles V ( Holy Roman Emperor) and the Schmalkaldic League (Lutheran princes). The treaty gave legal status to Lutherans in Germany but left the Calvinists still being unrecognized. Leading them to the Defenestration of Prague where Calvinists threw two catholics of the bohemian royal council out of a window to start a revolt after the election of ferdinand. Thus starting the war that would continue as a struggle for balance between religious powers. Ending with the signing of the mtreaty of westphilalia giving the netherlands freedom from spain, sweden gained control of the baltic, france became known as the preeminent western power, and german states were allowed to determine the religion of their lands.
Cause:
The thirty years war began as a rebellious civlil war between the protestants and roman catholics in germany that engaged the Austrian Habsburge and the roman princes. The war soon developed into a devastating struggle for the balance of power in Europe.
Christian IV
Monarch of Oldenburg and king of Denmark and the Norway. Led his army into northern Germany. Terrified of witch craft so he burned a bunch of peopleduring the Burning Times.
Wallenstein
Military leader of Catholics and was very successful but also very greedy for land.
Frederick V of Palatine
Calvinist leader in the Holy Roman Empire. Head of the protestant union. Also super rad.
Ferdinand II
Catholic king of Bohemia and Hungary. His people (mostly protestant) rebelled and chose Frederick V of Palatine to be their ruler
Charles V
Duke of burgundy and ruler of Netherlands. Signed the peace of augsburg giving the german princes the ability to choose the religion of their state.
Significance
The 30 years war made some pretty important changes in the religious and political standings of Europe at the time.Looking at the big picture it put a lot of tension between the at the time Nation States and you could say possibly led to the defining of Europe's current countries. the thirty years war is was gained Calvinists their recognition and brought about the treaty of Westphalia. The Holy Roman Empire was largely downsized.
Out come:
One result of the war was the divition of Germany into many territories all of which, despite their membership in the empire won de facto sovereighty. This limited the power of the holy roman empire and decentralized German power. The thirty years war rearanged the European power structure.