Lesson 9 Thirty Years War and THE GERMANS

Lesson #9 Thirty Years War and THE GERMANS

Why do we call the World Wars “world” wars?

Thirty Years War (1618 -1648) WAS THIS THE FIRST WORLD WAR? • Most important war of the 17 th Century • Included most major powers – England left out – James I – Russia was still in a state of chaos • Millions died • Shattered the peace: Peace of Augsburg (1555) • Reshaped national hegemony – Spain out, France in • Destroyed land, lives, and trust and commerce • Changed ideological focus: Ended Wars of Religion • Leaders made and destroyed

The Thirty Years War 1. War of religion 1. Last and most destructive of the Wars of Religion 2. Catholic vs. Protestant 2. War of hegemony 1. Included nearly every major power in Europe 2. Reshaped the map of Europe 3. Spain lost leadership position 4. Replaced by France 3. Fought in The Empire, much in Bohemia 1. Result: the Empire would be left in shambles 2. Far too many German dead to count

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

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

Phase #1: BOHEMIAN PHASE • Defenestration of Prague (1618) (1618 -1625) – Ferdinand Hapsburg – ascended to King of Bohemia – Bohemia (part of Austria and Empire) was a bastion for religious liberty… Catholics &Protestants lived in peace click – 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

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

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

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

#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

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 3 m

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… • • 4 m

What makes this like a World War? What makes this NOT like a World War?

The GERMANS AUSTRIANS PRUSSIANS

Holy Roman Empire 1. Formed in 700 2. Frankish King Charlemagne declared himself an emperor, and controlled… 3. ITALY, GERMANY, PART OF FRANCE, AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF 4. But, he was not holy, not Roman, and it was not an Empire…

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

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

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

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

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

HOHENZOLLERN • Disjointed lands • United by family control

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

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” • • •

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; 4 th largest army Best equipped, most powerful; precision and dislipline

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 • What did it mean that he was a SERVANT OF THE STATE? • How can we do this today? • How is this something like the Italian Humanists?