RISE OF AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA

Chapter 4 Section 4

THE THIRTY YEARS’ WAR Voltaire, a French philosopher, said that the Holy

Roman Empire was a patchwork of several hundred small, separate states.

In theory, these states were under control of the Holy roman Emperor

He was chosen by seven German princes called electors.

In practice, the emperor had little power over the many rival princes.

Religion further divided the German states, and this sparked the Thirty Years’ War.

THE WAR BEGINS War had both religious and political

causes. Began in Bohemia, presently the Czech

Republic Ferdinand, Hapsburg king of Bohemia,

sought to suppress Protestants and assert royal power over local nobles.

In May 1618, a few Protestant nobleman tossed two royal officials out of a castle window.

This started a general conflict, which turned into a general European War.

THE WAR BEGINS The following year, Ferdinand was named the Holy

Roman Emperor. He tried to roll back the Reformation, with the

support of Spain, Poland, and many Catholic States. Early on in the war, he defeated the Bohemians and

their Protestant Allies Immediately after, Protestant Powers such as

Netherlands and Sweden sent troops to Germany. Political Issues quickly outweighed religious issues,

and many rulers shifted their alliances to suit their interests.

Eventually, Catholic France joined Lutheran Sweden against the Catholic Hapsburgs.

A BRUTAL CONFLICT Armies of mercenaries, or soldiers for

hire, burned villages, destroyed crops, and killed without mercy.

Murder and torture were followed by famine and disease.

The war led to depopulation, or reduction of population.

Historians estimate that one third of the people in German states died from the war.

PEACE AT LAST In 1648, the sides accepted a series of

treaties, known as the Peace of Westphalia.

France came out as a clear winner. They gained territory on both it German and Spanish Frontiers.

The Hapsburgs were the losers because they had to accept the total independence of all the princes of the Holy Roman Empire.

Netherlands and Switzerland won recognition as independent states.

PEACE AT LAST Germany ended up divided into 360

separate states. They still acknowledged leadership of

the Holy roman emperor. Each state had its own coinage,

government, armed forces, state church, and foreign policy.

Germany remained fragmented for another 200 years.

HAPSBURG AUSTRIA Weakened by war, Hapsburgs wanted to

create a strong united state. Kept title of Holy Roman emperors. Along with Austria, they added Bohemia,

Hungary, and parts of Italy and Poland.

UNITY AND DIVERSITY Uniting the lands were very difficult. In the Hapsburg Empire, people had

their own languages, laws, assemblies, and customs.

The Hapsburgs did exert control over these diverse peoples.

The Hapsburg Empire never developed a centralized government.

MARIA THERESA In 1700s, emperor Charles VI had no son

to take his place as ruler. His daughter, Maria Theresa, was

capable, but no woman had ever ruled Hapsburg lands.

Charles asked many rulers to recognize his daughter’s right to succeed him, but many ignored their pledge.

MARIA THERESA In 1740, Frederick II of Prussia seized

control of a Hapsburg province. Maria asked Hungarians for military

help, but they were unfriendly with her. She eventually got help from Britain and

Russia. Throughout the war, she strengthened

Hapsburg power by reorganizing the bureaucracy and improving tax collection.

THE RISE OF PRUSSIA Prussia emerged as a new Protestant power In 1600s, the Hohenzollern family ruled parts of

north Germany. They eventually conquered many other states

and they set up a central bureaucracy and reduced independence of nobles, called Junkers.

Many Prussian rulers formed one of the best trained armies in Europe.

They won loyalty of Junkers by giving them positions in government or army.

FREDERICK II Frederick William trained his son

Frederick II in the art of war Frederick II preferred playing the flute

and writing poetry. His dad treated him terribly because of

this, and Fred JR. tried to flee the country

Finding out about this, Frederick William put his son in solitary confinement.

MILITARY SUCCESSES Shortly after becoming king, Fred Jr.

used his army to seize Silesia from Austria.

In many other wars, Fred Jr. brilliantly used his army, forcing all to accept Prussia as a great power.

This is how he became Frederick the Great.

KEEPING THE BALANCE OF POWER By 1750, the great powers of Europe

were Austria, Russia, Prussia, France, and England.

Formed alliances to maintain balance of power

Sometimes, rivalries caused worldwide conflict.

REVIEW Mercenary- Soldier for hire, only fights for the

highest bidder Depopulation- Loss of population due to war,

famine, or disease What country did the Hapsburg’s rule, actually what

country and empire? Austria What was the group of Princes called that selected

the Holy Roman Emperor? Electors What did the Holy Roman Emperor want to roll back

in Europe? Protestant Reformation/Protestant Tide What was the war called the ended with the Peace

of Westphalia? 30 years war Who was the first female empress of Austria? Maria

Theresa