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The Thirty Years War: Reshaping Europe and Changing German History

Explore the impact of the Thirty Years War, the most important conflict of the 17th century, on Europe and Germany. Discover how it reshaped national hegemony, destroyed trust and commerce, and ended the Wars of Religion. Learn about the leaders involved, the millions of lives lost, and the war's classification as the first "World War."

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The Thirty Years War: Reshaping Europe and Changing German History

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  1. Lesson #8Thirty Years WarandTHE GERMANS

  2. Thirty Years War (1618-1648) • Most important war of the 17th Century • Shattered the Peace of Augsburg (1555) • Reshaped national hegemony • Destroyed trust and commerce • Ended Wars of Religion • Leaders made and destroyed • Killed MILLIONS • In a way… The first “World War”

  3. The Thirty Years War • War of religion • Last and most destructive of the Wars of Religion • Catholic vs. Protestant • War of hegemony • Included nearly every major power in Europe • Reshaped the map of Europe • Spain lost leadership position • Replaced by France • Fought in The Empire, much in Bohemia • Result: the Empire would be left in shambles • Far too many German dead to count

  4. Basics of the War • Four phases • Started in Bohemia • Empire tried to slaughter Protestant rebels • Spain immediately joined to support Empire • And protect the Spanish Netherlands • Other nations joined in • Denmark • Sweden • France

  5. Opposing Sides • Protestant Alliance (1609) • Formed by Frederick of the Palatinate • Prepared to defend against Emperors • Catholic League (1609) • Formed by Maximillian of Bavaria • Prepared to aggression from Protestants • Under command of Count Tilly Palatinate

  6. Phase #1: BOHEMIAN PHASE (1618-1625) • Defenestration of Prague (1618) • Ferdinand Hapsburg – ascended to King of Bohemia • Bohemia (part of Austria and Empire) was a bastion for religious liberty… Catholics &Protestants lived in peace • Ferdinand revoked religious freedoms • Bohemians chose Frederick to be their king • “The Winter King” (1619-1620) • Ferdinand sent envoys to Bohemia • Bohemians threw them out the window • “DEFENESTRATION OF PRAGUE” (50’) • Ferdinand elected Emperor (1619) • Sent troops to reclaim Bohemia click

  7. Phase #1: BOHEMIAN PHASE • Ferdinand (Hapsburg) asked Spanish Hapsburgs for support • Spain immediately sent support • Attacked Frederick at BATTLE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN • Catholics (Spain and HRE) defeated Protestants (Bohemia) • Empire absorbed Bohemia into Hapsburg domain

  8. Phase #2 - Danish Phase (1625-1629) • Dutch, French and English formed a league • Why is this strange? • Christian of Denmark • Lutheran • To support Protestants • Christian invaded – wanted more coastal towns • Quickly defeated by Wallenstein • Emperor feared Wallenstein’s power • Emperor replaced Wallenstein with Tilly

  9. Why would France join the Protestants? Plus… Why not beat up on the “big guy”?

  10. #3 - Swedish Phase (1630-1635) • Gustavus Adolphus • Invaded with French $$ • A whole new kind of warfare • Swift, agile, mobile • Smaller cannon • Loyal soldiers • Most fighters so far are mercenaries • Swedes are led by their king • France leader: Cardinal Richelieu • (for King Louis XIII) • Destroyed Tilly’s forces at Breitenfeld • Emperor recalled Wallenstein

  11. Phase #4 - French Phase (1635-1648) • Most sections of Empire signed peace treaties • Spain exhausted • Swedes getting greedy • France saw weakness • France declared war on Spain • Entered war • Now a war on Empire soil of Spain vs. France • Utter destruction and death • France wore down Hapsburgs • Kept fighting until Spanish went home 3m

  12. Peace of Westphalia • War grinded to a halt after 30 years of death • Results? • 33% of German population dead • 40% of rural population dead • 50% of Bohemian population dead • Trade in Empire destroyed • France replaced Spain as leader in Europe • Recognition of Calvinism, Swiss Confederation and United Provinces • Empire reduced to shell around independent states • Back to Peace of Augsburg conditions… 4m

  13. The GERMANS AUSTRIANS PRUSSIANS

  14. Holy Roman Empire • Formed in 700 • Frankish King Charlemagne declared himself an emperor, and controlled… • ITALY, GERMANY, PART OF FRANCE, AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF • But, he was not holy, not Roman, and it was not an Empire…

  15. Hapsburg Family • Associate them with Austrian monarchy (1438-1740) • The most powerful region in all of the Empire • Ultra Catholic • For generations, the HRE was always a Hapsburg • They had the wealth • They had the power • They were bent on controlling all Germans

  16. Hapsburg Family • Known for having taken arranged marriages to a whole new level • exploiting unions between European royal families with the aim of forming new alliances and earning new territories • Their motto was simple and straightforward: “Let others wage wars, but you, happy Austria, shall marry.” Considered one of the top 5 most influential families in history of the world

  17. Hapsburgs • Turned power East • Hungary, Balkans and beyond • Who will the come into conflict with? • Defeated Ottomans 1699 in Hungary and Transylvania • Most of Hapsburg lands located outside the Empire • Diverse languages and cultures – had to make deals with Nobility

  18. War of Spanish Succession • 1703-1714 • Two most powerful families • Spanish Charles had no sons • Next closest heir was grandsons – about equal • Ferdinand Hapsburg’s grandson • Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip

  19. PRUSSIA Read p. 499 – Great Elector welcomes Protestant Refugees from France (late 1680s)

  20. HOHENZOLLERN • Disjointed lands • United by family control

  21. Frederick William, Great Elector • 1640-1688 • Determined to unite three provinces • Imperial electorate of Brandenburg • Prussia (run by Dukes of Prussia) • Scattered holdings on Rhine River • Brandenburg and Prussia • Run by Junkers (nobles) • Powerful man – built up military to 40,000 • Allowed Junkers to enserf population • One million population with HUGE army

  22. Frederick I, King of Prussia • r. 1688-1713 • Son of FW, Great Elector • Very cultured • Built palaces, patronized arts, built Univ. • Lived “well” • Offered the Prussian army to assist HRE in War of Spanish Succession • In return, HRE allowed title: “KING IN PRUSSIA”

  23. Frederick William I • r. 1713-1740 • “the soldiers king” • Complete centralization of the State • True Prussian Absolutism • Intensely militaristic; wore uniform • Disciplined life of a soldier • Transformed Prussia into a military state • Eliminated the last of local self-government • Exceptionally loyal and obedient bureacacy • 12 largest population in Europe; 4th largest army • Best equipped, most powerful; precision and dislipline

  24. Frederick II (The Great) • r. 1740-1786 • Young • Immediately attacked Austria upon ascending to throne • Upset Pragmatic Sanction (Maria Theresa) • Started War of Austrian Succession

  25. Essay Practice • What makes a “poor” thesis? • What makes a “strong” thesis? • Can you tell the difference? • Look at Rubric and Samples for writing…

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