THIRTY YEARS WAR

1618 - 1648

1608:The creation of the Protestant Union (The Evangelic Union) an alliance of

princes and city's supported by Holland, England and France led by (Frederick IV)

the Elector of Palatinate.

1609:The creation of the Catholic League led by Maximilian of Bavaria and aided by the

Emperor.

Bohemian Phase (1618-1625 commencement of hostilities)

1618:Ferdinand Hapsburg of Austria elected King of Bohemia and begins his Catholic

reformatory policies.

1618:Bohemian Protestant rebels invade the royal palace in Prague throwing two of the

Kings ministers out of the windows (known as the Defenestraition of Prague). This marked

the Protestant uprising lead by Count Heinrich Mattias. Protestants call for help from

Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy and Ferdinand of Austria.

1618:1st Nov. The battle of Pilsen. A Protestant army led by General Count Ernist von

Mansfeld crossed into Bohemia with an army of 20,000. They attacked and captured the

town of Pilsen a Catholic stronghold some 52 miles south west of Prague.

1619:10th of June. The battle of Sablat. On route to besiege the Catholic town of Budweis

Count Ernist von Mansfelds 20,000 men strong force was intercepted by the army of King

Ferdinand which was commanded by the Comte de Bocquoy and forced Mansfeld to retire

from the field after suffering 1,500 casualties and losing his baggage train.

1619:Frederick V elector of Palatinate is elected by Bohemians as their new King, which

annuls the Evangelic Union. Frederick being a Calvinist led to several Lutheran members

of the union to withdraw.

1619:August: Ferdinand becomes Ferdinand II Holy Roman Emperor.

1619:Spain takes the side of Ferdinand and prepares to invade Protestant Germany from

Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands.

1620:8th of November the battle of White Mountain. Maximilian 1st of Bavaria sent a

Catholic army of 25,000 men under Field Marshall Count Tilly against Prague. Opposed by

Christian 1st of Anhalt who led the Bohemian forces to the west of Prague where they

were joined by Gabriel Bethlen, a Hungarian Nobleman. The combined army chose its

ground on the chalk slopes of White Mountain. After an artillery bombardment Count Tilly

charged his men up the mountain slope and into the Protestants lines that after suffering

heavy losses fell back leaving Tilly's army to enter Prague freely. In turn leaving all

Bohemia under catholic control. Protestantism was banned.

1620: Spanish conquer Palatinate and divide it with Bavaria.

1622: April: Count Tilly's army defeated at Wiesloch.

Danish Phase (1625-1629)

1625:German Protestant calls for help are answered by Christian IV of Denmark. He uses

the Protestant cause as an excuse to further his territorial ambition and supported by

Calvinist and Lutheran German Princes invades Saxony.

1626:April: Albrecht von Wallenstein Duke of Friedland a Catholic Bohemian leads a newly

raised Imperial army of mercenaries for service under Ferdinand II in their first victory at

Dessau.

1626:Christian's army defeated at Lutter an Barenberge by Tilly.

1627: The combined Imperialist army of Tilly and Wallenstein gains control of northern

Germany and with Wallenstein in pursuit, forces Christian's army to retreat into the Jutland

Peninsula.

1629:March: Ferdinand issues the Edict of Restitution which made void any Protestant

claims to Roman Catholic land acquired in the Treaty of Augsburg.

Swedish Phase (1630-1635)

1630:Backed by French cardinal Richelieu Gustav Adolphus of Sweden lands at

Peenemnde on the coast of Pomerania with 10,000 troops

1631:Tilly now in overall command of the Imperialist army after Wallenstein being fired

lays siege to the Protestant city of Magdeburg which was rebelling against the Holy

Roman Empire. The city falls to Tilly's army on 20th May who massacres the Inhabitants.

1631: September 17th the battle of Breitenfeld. The combined Swedish and Saxon armies

were nearly defeated when the Saxon army fled at the first Imperialist charge allowing

Tilly's men to out flank the Swedish. A quick regroup of the Swedish forces saved the day

and routed Tilly's force who suffered around 6,000 casualties.

1632:April: Tilly is mortally wounded on the banks of the Lech River, which led to the recall

of Wallenstein who rapidly raised a new army of mercenaries.

1632:Wallenstein invades Saxony, which led to the battle of Lutzen on 16th November, a

Swedish victory that cost the death of the Swedish King Gustav Adolphus.

1632:Bernhard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar takes command of the Swedish army.

1633:Wallenstein removed from command of Imperialist army on charges of treason after

attempting to initiate peace negotiations.

1634:Wallenstein assassinated after entering peace talks with Protestant leaders.

1634:September 1634 Duke Bernhard defeated at the battle of Nordlingen. Protestant

Union sue for peace.

1635:Peace of Prague Edict of Restitution annulled.

French Phase (1635-1648)

1635:France declares war on Spain.

1636:4th October The battle of Wittstock. Swedish General Johan Baner defeats a

combined Saxon and Austrian army.

1638:March. Battle of Rheinfelden.

1642:The Swedish under General Lennart Torstensson begin a series of victories that led

to the occupation of Denmark.

1643:May. The battle of Rocroi. The French army, under Conde defeat the Spanish army.

1644:November French defeated at battle of Tyttlingen.

1647:Truce of Ulm.

1648:August 20th battle of Lens. This French victory forced Ferdinand to sue for peace.

1648:The Peace of Westphalia ended hostilities in Germany.