Introduction to Modern German History

4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Tobias Winnerling

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

War years in Europe, 1600–1700 (matched

to modern borders)

Almost no year in the 17th

century is free from warAll major European countries are

at warMajor causes:Confessional conflictFrench-Habsburg conflictRuler-Estate-conflicts

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Religious map ofEurope in 1618

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Political map ofEurope in 1618

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Political map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1618

Mind:In 1618 the Holy

Roman Empire still had no borders in a modern sense, only

territories whichbelonged to it more

or less strictly

4.1 Causes for a Thirty Years‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

The comet of 1618 in Augustin Güntzer‘s

diary, standing overSouthwest Germany

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

In 1618 the estatesof Bohemia deposeEmperor Matthias as King of BohemiaThe lands of the

Bohemian Crown(red) are a majorpower base of thehouse of HabsburgConsequence:

Emperor declareswar on Bohemia

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

The estates ofBohemia choosethe ElectorPalatine (Frederick V) as their kingThe Palatinate

(red) lies on theRhine, potentiallyblocking Spains main troopcorridorFrederick V is

outlawed for high treason, the kingof Spain chosen asexecutor

The two mainroutes of theSpanish Road

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second partof the war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Turning point of thewar: Peace of Prague, 1635Since 1635 almost all

German princes fighton the imperial sideThe war becomes a

war of the Holy Roman Empire against France andSweden („thecrowns“)

Military involvement in the Thirty Years‘ War by party and alliance

(black= imperial, red= crowns)

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second partof the war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Problems:State infrastructures

are not suited tomanage armies ofThirty Years‘ War sizeBattles, irregular

combat, pillage andplunder lay manyregions waste Parties are equal in

strength, no decisiveengagements

Diagonal ofdestruction,

Southwest toNortheast

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second partof the war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Effects on society

Weakening of social norms and structures, widespread fatalism

Johannes Lutz’s resume in 1648 is typical:“If many an arrogant fool knowing how to title everyone had seen what I

have, what would he be like then? Honour to God alone/ and besides to none.”

„Wen manch hoffartiger essell, der iteman tittulirn kann, dieses gesehen hette wass ich, wehr woller dan sein.

Gott allein die ehr/Und sunsten niemandts mehr.“

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Holy Roman Empire after 1648

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

The Peace of Westphalia, 1648

Essentially a compromiseEmperor‘s position remains unchanged,

which in turn strengthens the princesFrance and Sweden gain territories within

the EmpireReligious tolerance: Peace of Augsburg

renewed, this time including Calvinists alsoNetherlands and Switzerland leave the

Empire as independent states

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Opening of thePerpetual Diet,

Regensburg 1663

Imperial Diet in permanent session in Regensburg since 1663Imperial

Chamber Court reorganised

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Young Louis XIV, portrayed as riding

into battle

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Security of the French monarchySecurity of FrancePersonal glory

Aims of Louis XIV

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Emperor Leopold I, portrayed in

harness

Ottoman siege ofVienna fails in 1683Habsburg forces

make large gains in Ottoman Hungary

4.1 Causes for a ThirtyYears‘ War4.2 The first part ofthe war: 1618–16354.3 The second part ofthe war: 1635–16484.4 The Peace ofWestphalia andreconstruction4.5 The wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1688

Introduction to Modern German History: 4. War and Statebuilding: 1618 – 1688

Emperor Leopold I, portrayed in

harness

Further Reading:

Olaf Asbach (ed.): The Ashgate Research Companion to the Thirty Years War, Farnham 2014ULB: 02 his j 569 d 771

Whaley, Joachim: Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, Vol. 2: From the Peace of Westphalia to the dissolution of the Reich 1648 – 1806, Oxford 2012 ULB: 02 his n 234 w 552(2)