Thirty Years' War

Overview

• Time Period: 1618-1648
• Significance: Last major war of the Protestant Reformation; marks a turning point in European history
• Location: Mainly in the Holy Roman Empire

Background

• Reformation Impact: Martin Luther's influence in the Holy Roman Empire
• Peace of Augsburg (1555): Established "Cius Regno, Eius Religio": "whose realm, his religion."
  • Allowed rulers to choose between Lutheranism or Catholicism
  • Excluded Calvinism, leading to future conflicts

Phases of the War

1. Bohemian Phase
   • Location: Modern-day Czech Republic (Bohemia)
   • Conflict: Catholic ruler vs. Protestant majority
   • Key Event: Defenestration of Prague
     • Protestants threw Catholic messengers out a window, survived a fall
   • Outcome: Catholic victory at the Battle of White Mountain
2. Danish Phase
   • Denmark's Lutheran King intervened for Protestants
   • Defeated by Wallenstein, a Habsburg mercenary
   • Outcome: Catholic dominance continues
3. Swedish Phase
   • Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden intervenes
   • Known as the "father of modern warfare" for using mobile artillery
   • Supported by French funds (political reasons)
   • Outcome: Protestants gain momentum
4. French Phase
   • Roles reversed: Swedes fund the French
   • Most continental and political phase
   • War becomes inconclusive, leading to peace negotiations

Conclusion of the War

• Peace of Westphalia (1648)
  • Weakened the Holy Roman Empire and Spanish Habsburgs
  • Independence for Dutch Netherlands and Switzerland
  • Rise of Brandenburg-Prussia
  • France gains Alsace
• Religious Impacts:
  • Calvinism accepted alongside Catholicism and Lutheranism
  • Freedom of private worship
  • End of religious wars in Europe

Consequences

• Shift in balance of power towards France
• Decline of Habsburg influence
• Foundation for future unification of Germany

Significance

• Marks the end of the Protestant Reformation era
• Last major religious war in Europe
• European recognition of the futility of religious conflict

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