The Thirty Years War
Part 2

An Examination of the Leaders
and Their Motivations

by Bill Boyle

Faced with a chronology of the war, most observers will soon say, "if this is a war of religion, how come Lutheran Saxony is helping Catholic Austria and Bavaria crush Bretheran Bohemia who is allied with Calvinist Palantine? Why is Catholic France trying to stop Catholic Spain from stealing from Palantine? Why is Bavaria against spain attacking Bavarias' enemy Palantine? How come the Calvinist Dutch and Anglican English send money and good wishes to Lutheran Denmark to attack Bavaria? In other words, things are not always simple and without an understanding ot the leaders motives and a background to the conflict, no real understanding of the war is possible.

I propose to try to clear the air, but it is tought to tell the players without a score card. Modern Europe grew from the ashes of the war, and the minefields of bias in the form of religious, national, personel, historical theory, and politcal views by the writers who discuss this war cloud every account, including my own. When reading anything about this war , try to figure out the bias of the writer, and after studies from several differant points of view, you can then draw your own conclusions.

DEEP BACKGROUND

16th century Central Europe

The rise of Lutheranism tore at the fabric of European culture. Charles V , the Emperor and leader of the entire Hapsburg dynasty strove mightily against the problems that beset his rule, only one of which was the Lutheran issue in Germany. The commitments were too great even for his genius and empire. Faced with economic and military exhaustion, Charles formulated a truce that became know as 'The Confession of Augsburg'. It permitted the Lutheran confession and outlawed secularzation of church property, i.e. the princes of Germany could seize church wealth. Without this agreement the Holy Roman Empire would have been destroyed. Charles then retired brokenhearted and split the Hapsburg dominans, creating the Spanish branch and Austrian branch. Charles viewed the entire Habsburg posessions; too large for any one man to rule. Both sides of the Augsburg confession merely looked for the day thay a settling of accounts would happen. The surprising thing is not that the Thirty Years War broke out, but that the truce (The Augsburg Confession) had held for sixty years.

THE TINDERBOX: GERMANY JUST PRIOR TO THE WAR

The underlined issues help fuel the fires of war in the Holy Roman Empire.

The German economy was probably in an economic contraction due to the newer type of ships creating new trade routes as sea. This particularly hurt central and eastern portions of the Holy Roman Empire. This downturn helped create tensions between the classes and resistance to taxes, which were being raised to help pay for the Long War. The Long War was between the Turks and Austria. A rebellion broke out in Bohernia against Austrian leadership, primarily because of Austrian commanders 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' at the battle of Kerestes. The Bohemian nobles raised an army and marched on Vienna. The Austrians then negotiated a settlement regarding taxes (to pay for the Long War) and the 'Letter of Majesty' which safeguarded Bohemian religous freedom,

Calvinism A militant form of protestantism that was gaining adherants, it upset the fragile balance between the Lutheran and Catholic faiths. Roundly hated by both sides, the Calvinists returned the favor. The Calvinists had no legal standing and would at least attempt to upset the status quo.

Counter Reformation. The Jesuits were the front fighters in trying to recover what had been lost to the Protestants and the Catholic equivalent of the Calvinists. They also pushed against the balance created by the 'Augsburg Confession.' Ferdinand the H and Maximillan of Bavaria had both received Jesuit education and Jesuit influence was strong in their council meetings and in their confessionals.

The Incident at Donaworth A riot at Donaworth (1609) allowed the Emperor to step in and adjudicate' the distrurbance. In spite of only two Catholics in the entire town, Emperor Mattihas found in favor of the Catholics, and placed the town in the 'trusteeship' of Maximillan of Bavaria. This put the Protestants on notice of Hapsburg intention to overturn the Augsburg Confession. The Protestant Union , a military alliance, was formed in response, The Unions leader was Frederick of Palantine, ardent Calvinist. Maximillan of Bavaria responded by setting up 'The Catholic League' to put the German Catholics on the same war footing, By 1618, the radicals of both camps had run off the moderates in both military alliances,

Divine right Pressured by the rising costs of war, all kings were trying to improve administration, collect taxes , and centralize government. More money and absolute power to further their dynastic ambitions was the goal of all kings during the 17th century, Buttressed by the concept of 'divine right', each leader forged ahead. How sucessful they were is judged by the results. Some, like Charles the I of England, lost theirs.

This behavior lead to the curtailment of ' traditional freedoms and liberties' and would be met with resistance. Do not be confused , however, in the 17th century a liberty meant ' I don't have to do something others must' and freedom meant ' I can do something others can't.' Using these definitons, the phrase ' german liberties' is much less high minded and has much less moral ground. ( Before we leave the subject of divine rights of kings, I would like to point out that with few exceptions, (some republics), countries that did not centralize under the king could not sucessfully wage war and were preyed on by their neighbors.) The problem of centralization to pay for war was made more difficult by the political structure of the Holy Roman Empire.

Political Structure The Holy Roman Empire was over 1000 political entities that had veto power over the Emperors' actions, if they worked together. They could only act, though, if the Emperor called the diet. The Emperors' strength was his own personel resources and whoever he could cajole or bribe into following him. The Emperor was elected by the seven Electors, who had great prestige and were the power brokers of Germany. Nothing was accomplished without their consent.

The Elector of Bohemia, a nominally elected king, could only vote for electing an Emperor and could not take action on any other business. The Bohemian King was traditionally Hapsburg. The Elector of Brandenberg was Calvinist but his country was Lutheran. The Elector of Saxony was Lutheran. The Elector of Palantine was Calvinist, making three Protestant, secular electors. The Bishops of Trier, Cologne, and Mainz were the three Catholic, ecclesiastic Electors. No concrete action would be taken other than fighting the Turks, increasing their own power at the expense of others in Germany, (but only if the power was increased equally,) and electing an Emperor. Suprisingly, this new emperor would be a Hapsburg, with Bohemia casting the deciding vote. In short, the politcal structure was paralized.

THE PLAYERS

. The difficulty in outlining the players in this German tragedy is breaking them down into managable groupings. The following is arbitrary, but effective. I will then examine each group.
    1. First Tier Germans. Austria, Bavaria, Brandenberg, Bohemia, Saxony.
    2. Second Tier Germans. Palantine, Trier, Hesse, Wurttemberg, Hanseatic League.
    3. First Rank Foreign Powers, Spain, Denmark, France, Sweden, Netherlands.
    4. Dogs in the Manger. Italian States, Lorraine, Savoy, Transylvania, Hungary.
    V. Military Entrepreneures. Saxe Weimar, Wallenstein, Christian of Brunwick, Mansfield.
    VI. Peripheral Foreign Powers. England, Poland, Russia, Ottoman Empire, The First Tier Germans are the largest and most powerful leaders in Germany.

AUSTRIA. (2.6 million pop.) Under the leadership of Ferdinand, " I'd rather rule a desert than heritecs," the II was commited to a policy of counter reformation everywhere. Ferdinand the II also wished to make the Holy Roman Empire his empire in fact as well as name. This desire to centralize power and wipe out Protestants caused the war to continue and widen in scope. His son, Ferdinand the III, was more pragmatic and when faced with losing all, as Ferdinand the II once did, he conceded to 'half a loaf ' rather than no bread.

SAXONY. (1 Million Pop.) John George was the leader of the Lutheran faction in Germany. He often sought ' a third way' between the radicals of both confessional camps. He hated foreign influence in Germany and tried to follow his fathers', successful, policy of backing the emperor. His fathers' policy was why John George and not the Saxe Weimar branch controlled most of Saxony, Eventually forced to fight to protect his faith and country against the Emperor, he wasn't happy about it and switched sides as soon as his faith and country were secure. A notable drunkard in a country of renowned drunkards, his leadership was not always well thought out.

BRANDENBERG ( 1 million pop.) John William was a weak mart who was Calvinist in a Lutheran country with Catholic advisors. He wished mostly to avoid any war or responsibility. Held Ducal Prussia , and as such owed fealty to the Polish king. Would inherit Pomerania when old duke Bogoslav died. Also held Cleves, Mark and Julich in 'trusteeship ' from the Emperor until the succession issues were decided. Of course, if the sucession could not be decided, he could keep them forever. Managed not to lose his rights to these properties, although he was occupied, until his son , ( the Great Elector) , could put a firm hand on the tiller.

BAVARIA ( 1 million pop.) Maximillian was a good administrator with a sound war chest. Leader of the Catholic League, he wished to wipe out heresy and increase his property. Additionally he coveted an electorship. Bavaria was first tier in strength but would not be looked upon as first tier unless Maximillan could become an elector. Maximilian would not risk losing all, his dynasty was more important than advancing his faith.

BOHEMIA (2 million pop.) Half of Austrian Hapsburg revenue came from Bohemia, Lusiatia, Moravia, and Silesia, refered to as the Bohemian provinces. These provinces had four religions: Lutheran , Catholic, Ultraquist, and Bretheran. ( the last two grew out of the Hussite movement.) None of the four would ally for any reason except tactical expediency. Bohemia was viewed as rich provinces but with the changes in trade routes and the traditional mining of silver in decline, the economy was in depression. Bohemia also had few 'yeoman' farmers to ally with the town burghers, Additionally, a majority of the great nobles were Catholic, However, when the Emperor tried to turn back the clock on the 'liberties ' , all classes reacted swiftly and effectively with a coup. (The defenstration of Prague,) Governing, they found, was much more difficult than rebelling to satisfy their just claims. The Emperor was not interested in negotiating, as was traditional and was what the Bohemians expected, but in crushing them. This divergent viewpoint hampered the Bohemians from making a concerted effort to gain their independence. Narrow self interest, false economy, and no real desire to settle the issue militarily doomed Bohemia to lose all. The bohemiams rebelled with the traditional goal of making it unpleasant enough to force negotiations, they did not recognize that Ferdinand was not playing by the rules.

PALANTINE (600,000 pop. ) Frederick and his advisor, Christian Of Anhalt, were die hard Calvinists that wished to convert all to their faith and gain official status. They desired to lead a Protestant coalition to victory with Frederick as its leader, instead of Ferdinand. Of course, his coalition liked everything but the Frederick leading part, they were not interested in trading Hapsburg domination for Palantine. Elizabeth, daughter of James the I , was Fredericks' wife, with all the Stuart family flaws. James the I of England fancied himself a peacemaker and did not want German commitments, so would only offer token help. Fredrick accepted the Bohemian crown from the rebels with no real thought of the consequences and no real support. Along with Ferdinand the II, Fredericks' religious beliefs and ambition would allow no compromise, even at the cost of his throne. The war would have been much shorter if either could have compromised. Spain's policy towards the Netherlands is the only other example of refusal to face either giving in or losing all, and even Spain gave up after crippling the dynasty.

TRIER (400,000 POP.) A pro French and pro counter reformation policy overridden by a strong desire not to spend any money on war. Tried to stay neutral until the war had grown to a point were Triers' relative large size would no longer tip the balance one way or the other. Then tried just not to be noticed, unsuccessfully.

HESSE, and WURTEMBERG (400,000 pop. each) Protestant powers who did not wish to see counter reformation and neither Frederick or Ferdinand dominant. Both powers would have joined the war in 1623 if the Catholic League had lost a battle. William of Hesse and his wife Amelia were one of the most ardent fighters for the protestants once they did enter the war. Wurternberg never seemed to have a clear policy , and , like Trier , were too small once forced into the war to have much impact. Had Trier, Hesse, and Wurtemberg understood Austrian and Bavarian intentions before the foreign powers had become involved , they could have tipped the scale toward the Protestant side and avoided the damages of the longer war. George Frederick of Baden Durlach did clearly see and cast his lot in 1622, but was too small to change the outcome, due to Tillys' brilliant campaign in 1623.

HANSEATIC LEAGUE.- This former 'power' of shipping and business were a collection of city states that wished to make money and avoid war. They would attempt to remain neutral. Their ports and ships made them valuable enough for many to cast a covetous eyes in the Hansards direction.

FIRST RANK FOREIGN POWERS

SPAIN Looked on by all as the most powerful country in the world, its failing economy was being held together only by the silver and gold shipments of the New World. Militarily very powerful; mostly by virture of the best infantry in the world. That same infantry knew it, and mutinied (basically strikes) for better working conditions and regular pay. Over extended due to vast possessions spread out over the globe, Spain tried to hold everything. This attempt bankrupted Spain, destroyed the Infantry (at Rocroi), and they still had to give up the Netherlands and Portugal. Spain's goals in the 17th century was to put down the Dutch revolt, stamp out heresy, and create a 'Spanish road' (or military safe road) from Italy to Flanders. However, the Dutch went on the back burner when the Italian or Iberian possessions were threatened. Viewed by all as working hand in glove with the Austrians in a plan of world domination, Spain and Austria's interests did not always coincide, and any possible world domination that could have occured would have been a fortunate by-product of each county following its own self interest.

FRANCE The France of the Thirty Years War is the France of Richeleu and the Three Musketeers, (the Grey Musketeers). Richeleus' goals were to take a country weakened by civil war and make her the great power she should be. This required

    1) make the king absolute by reducing the power of the ultra Catholics (mostly dukes that further split into a Spanish or Italian faction).
    2) neutralize the military and political power of the Hugenots (Protestants)
    3) make sure no big winner emerged in Germany that could threaten France and stop Frances' Eastward expansion, and finally,
    4) Avoid Hapsburg encirclement and domination.

Richeleu and his successor Mazarin achieved these goals, but it was a near run thing.

NETHERLANDS The Dutch wished to gain freedom from Spain, although a faction wished the war, (and its profits), would go on forever. They also desired Flanders. the Dutch did not wish to get involved in the war in Germany because their 'neutral ' eastern frontier would then be compromised. Clandestinely assisted with volunteers and some money to help weaken Spain and to keep Spain away from, for them, the decisive Flanders battlefields.

DEMARK Denmark held the Baltic sounds, thereby receiving tolls on every ship that transited the Baltic. Christian the IV also had built up a strong war chest, concluded a sucessful war against Sweden, and was looking to expand his holdings in Northern Germany. His goals were to quiet his agressive noblity by becoming more powerful in the Baltic, gaining more ground in north Germany, and maybe even become Holy Roman Emperor.

Not quite big enough to go it alone, Christian relied on English and Dutch subsidies. The money soon ran out, and eventually Christian was reduced to doing the Emperors bidding.

SWEDEN A minor power trying not to get conquered by its former king, the King of Poland, or swallowed up by a sucessful Emperor. Through the genius of Gustavus Sweden became a major power. Had the German Protestants backed him, they would have traded an Austrian Emperor for a de facto Swedish Emperor. Single handedly insured that Austria would not win. His death on the field of Lutzen insured that Sweden would not win. France had to directly enter the war after good, but not brilliant, Swedish generals lost at Nordlingen. What started out as a religious war affecting the dynasties of central Europe then became a struggle for mastery of Europe between Hapsburg Spain and Bourbon France.

DOGS IN THE MANGER

Italian States, Lorraine, Savoy, Transylvania, Hungary.

All of these powers tried to play off one side against the other to improve their position and /or survive as independent counties. Transylvania under Gabor did very well indeed. Hungary's nobility gained concessions and influence but were hampered by the 'turk at the door.' Charles of Lorraine lost everything looking for support from Ferdinand and the ultra catholics in France. Savoy played both France and Spain well, but once Spain could no longer balance increasing French strength, France destroyed Savoyard pretensions. The Italian States, (and the Pope), all chafed at Spanish dominance and did what they could to reduce Spain's influence.

MILITARY ENTREPENEURS

Saxe Weimar brothers, Wallenstein, Mansfield, Christain of Brunswick.

All of these minor princes were trying to parlay their military contracts into a fiefdom. Wallenstien did accomplish the task and was killed by his former employeer, Ferdinand, for his troubles. Their goals, at times prolonged the war. They would keep an army in being after they had lost the original reason for its creation, hoping to force someone to buy them off with a duchy.

PERIPHERAL POWERS

The rest of Europe was involved in the war but had no major stake in the outcome. They might send support or threaten, but had no major affect except in the minds of the protagonists locked in a death struggle in Germany and Flanders. Their involvement can best be covered in the chronology, but I will outline some of their motivations.

ENGLAND James viewed himself a the great peacemaker and his assistance in the early war helped doom Bohemia and Palantine. English goals were to support the Palantine son in law, support Calvinists, avoid German entanglements, insure no one power controls the Baltic, (due to shipping materials needed), and to ally with either France or Spain. The English Civil War, and Charles death, provided the German princes a sobering reminder of the limits of absolutism.

TURKEY The Ottomans had their hands full with succession trouble, wars with Poland, wars with Persia, and then a war with Venice. The Hapsburgs had to contend with the threat but this cut both ways as Transylvania made peace twice because of Turkish demands on Transylvania for support.

POLAND Did send help but involvement against Turkey and Russia kept Poland far from the German War, Sweden's successful campaigns in Poland absorbed all Polish military efforts.

RUSSIA. This period of Russian history is known as 'the time of troubles' and Russia was playing for survival against their western neighbors. Did support Sweden form 1630 to 1635 with favorable trade agreements.

CONCLUSION

The pettiness of the German leaders combined with religious zeal caused Germany to suffer the ravages of war unparalleled until the Twentieth Century. I hope that this short overview has proved helpful in sorting out the 'players' and that even now you are seized with and urge to paint cuirassiers and pikemen. The Thirty Years War provides a great backdrop for wild diplomacy in a campaign and the period has good tactical balance for combined arms action. The 'Great War', as it was called, should be considered The First World War and is well worth playing for the scope and scale it offers. Crusty Old Wargamers' Notebook Chuck Vadun: chuckvadun@home.com
Dan Richardson: RuffBooks@aol.com

Thanks to the internet, I've been able to reunite with my buddy Dan. Astoundingly enough, we are able to have a pretty good time swapping stories electronically and hardly a day passes when we don't trade at least one message.

Some of our conversations, if not all, dwell on our new circumstances as impoverished gamers. That is, distinguished folks who once had far too much money to burn on the hobby but now find themselves still gentlemen, to be sure, but gentlemen who must refrain from buying every round.

This reduction in our pocketbooks has been accompanied by equally devastating reductions in our wargaming adventures, which we thought might make some pretty amusing (possibly helpful, probably frightening) reading. So, with no further build-up, here's how you know you're having lean times as a wargamer.

    1.) You find yourself buying individual figures, instead of having a standing order for one bag of everything that comes out of the Foundry and Old Glory.

    2.) You find yourself adding water to gooped-up paint to stretch it further, rather than calling and ordering several new bottles via priority mail.

    3.) You find yourself selling your complete set of Ospreys because they take up too much space.

    4.) You find yourself purchasing primer and sealer from Wal-Mart instead of the el primo hobby stores.

    5.) You find yourself checking out books from the library instead of buying them - and awaiting inter-library loans instead of intercontinental shipments.

    6.) You convince yourself that Roundway British Marlburians will do as SYW French even though you know you'll spend sleepless nights worrying that the lace patterns aren't correct.

    7.) You find yourself haggling over the price of something you WANT.

    8.) You find yourself skipping lunch to buy some flock. Then getting hungry and eating the flock.

    9.) You find yourself settling into one period, because that really is all you can handle.

    10.) You see a beautiful setup with great figures at a convention and think, "At least I don't have to carry all that stuff home."

    11.) You start planning new wargaming purchases based on a hoped-for tax refund.

    12.) You start thinking about fathering another kid to jack up your earned income credit enough to get the aforementioned refund for sure.

    13.) You start mixing paints instead of buying one of every shade from the PollyS rack.

    14.) You suddenly realize that you know exactly how much wargaming stuff you have.

    15.) You find yourself living in Hovels instead of buying them.

If you find yourself doing more than three of these, there may be no hope of reversal. Have any more? Write or e-mail us for inclusion in a future column.

One of the other things we've been chewing on is constructing the blueprint for the perfect convention.

    1.) To begin, it should be held somewhere where the weather is good at the exact same time that your home weather is bad.

    2.) It should be far enough away so you can't be reached too easily and none of your keepers will notice if you stay up too late or have one too many beers or puff on a cigar or two. Just before you leave your mother-in-law drives up. She is coming to visit for a few days. As you sidle by, she sneaks you her VISA and Chevron cards, winks and enjoins you to have a good time.

    3.) When you pull up in your minivan, exhausted after a 14-hour drive, a bellhop cheerfully mule-hauls all your gear up to your room. When you reach for your wallet, he smiles and tells you there is absolutely no tipping allowed.

    4.) You should have plenty of time and money (at least $500 that no one but you knows you have), so you can arrive early, stay late and spend yourself silly.

    5.) Your room should feature a computer with an internet hookup to interactive games in every period. It should also offer 24/7 news flashes on the con. You should be able to send e-mail to all attendees and guests to facilitate game hookups, arrange luncheons and ask questions.

    6.) All the big names in wargaming have attended and they are all begging to spend some quality time with you.

    7.) The entire venue is well-lighted. You can actually see everything.

    8.) Nothing starts until after 11 AM. And, if you're not there then, everyone waits for you. At night (or wee hours) it all stays open until you're ready to retire.

    9.) Your worst figures win the painting competition. The prize is $ 100. And someone buys the winners for another $300.

    10.) All game hosts actually show up.

    11.) The Foundry and Old Glory stands have decided to have a face off sale and keep lowering prices until you can afford to buy one of everything from both of them.

    12.) You win the door prize. A museum-quality painted army of your choice (you select Highlanders, of course)!

    13.) Waterloo on Friday. Omdurman on Saturday. (or, substitute your favorite fray here) You're commanding both and you suffer astounding defeats and still have a good time, as do all your generals.

    14.) Everyone is having such a good time, a consensus vote is taken and the fun and games go on for yet another two days.

    15.) Howard Whitehouse decides it's too much trouble to pack his scenery home, so he gives it to you.

As earlier, if you want to add to the list, let us know. See you next time.

Related 30 Years War

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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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