1618-1648

JoannaPhilip (son of Maximilian

HRE)

Charles V Isabella of Portugal

Philip II

Ferdinand I

Maximilian II

Rudolf II

Spanish Hapsburgs Mathius

Anna

Ferdinand II

Origins

• Peace of Augsburg 1555– Chose between Catholic and

Protestant but there is still conflict

– Calvinism spread throughout empire•2 of 3 electors for HRE are Calvinist

• Hapsburg Ferdinand II crowned king of Bohemia in 1617– Supporter of the Catholic cause

The Bohemian Period (1618-1625)• Ferdinand II elected King

of Bohemia– Fear he will curtail religious

freedom for Protestants– Defenestration of Prague

results

• Ferdinand II is deposed – Frederick V (Calvinist and

elector of Palatine) put on Bohemian throne

• Catholics win at Battle of White Mountain in 1620– Czechs defeated; half the land

of nobles given to Catholics

The Danish Period (1625-1629)• Christian IV Lutheran ruler

of Denmark takes up Protestant cause against Emperor Ferdinand II

• Ferdinand and Albrecht Wallenstein defeat Christian

• Edict of Restitution (1629)– Restored to Catholics all

lands lost since 1552– Deprived all Protestants,

except Lutherans, of their religious and political rights.

• Catholic victories alarm• Emperor’s victories alarm• French Bourbons concerned

with growing

Protestants

German princes

Hapsburg power

The Swedish Period (1630-1635)• King Gustavus Adolphus

Sweden defends Protestants with French aid

• Battle of Lutzen Gustavus is killed

• Ferdinand orders Wallenstein killed

• Treaty of Prague ends this phase– Strengthened Hapsburgs

and weakened power of German princes

The French-Swedish Period (1635-1648)

The most destructive German towns destroyed Agriculture collapses

famine results 8 million dead 1/3 of the

population Causes massive inflation

Loss of life in 30 Years War

The French-Swedish Period (1635-1648) • Richelieu (chief minister to Louis

XIII) wants to weaken Hapsburg power and take Alsace from HRE. Also fighting against Hapsburg king in Spain (Philip IV)

• Fighting goes back and forth • Ferdinand II is succeeded by

Ferdinand III in 1637• Series of defeats for Hapsburgs

and prolonged fighting lead to peace settlement

Peace of Westphalia

The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)

• Religion– Peace of Augsburg extended to Calvinists– Catholics lose claim to confiscated lands

• Land lost and gained– Sweden and France gain territory– Switzerland gains independence from

HRE– Dutch receive independence from Spain

• German states strengthened– Can make treaties – Empire must get approval from states

before taxes or war