### == Characteristics of the Thirty Years War ==

The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground
At the beginning, it was Catholics vs Protestants
At the end, it was Habsburg power that was threatened
Resolved by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648

# {} Religious Phases
### == The Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 ==

Ferdinand II inherited Bohemia
	- The Bohemians hated him
	- Ferdinand refused to tolerate Protestants
	- Defenestration of Prague, May 1618
	- Bohemia named a new king, Frederick II

### == The Bohemian Phase ==

Ferdinand II becomes Holy Roman Emperor
	- Frederick II borrowed an army from Bavaria
	- Frederick lost his hands in the fighting

### == The Danish Phase ==

Ferdinand II tried to end all resistance
	- Tried to crush Protestant northern Holy Roman Empire
	- Ferdinand II used Albrecht von Wallenstein for the army
	- Wallenstein defeated Protestants in north
Edict of Restitution (1629):
	- Restored to Catholics all lands lost since 1552
	- Deprived all protestants, except Lutherans, of their religious and political rights
German Princes feared Ferdinand, he fired Wallenstein in an effort to calm them

# {} Self-interest Phases
### == The Swedish Phase ==

France and Sweden now get involved
	- Both want to stop Habsburg power
	- Sweden led the charge
	- France priovided support
Gustavus Adolphus invaded the HR Empire
	- Ferdinand II brought back Wallenstein
	- Swedish advance was stopped
German princes still feared Ferdinand II
Wallenstein assassinated to appease them

### == The French Phase ==

France and Sweden switched roles
All countries in Europe now participated
This phase was the most destructive
	- German towns decimated
	- Agriculture collapsed, famine resulted
	- 8 million dead, 1/3 of the population [from 21 million in 1618 to 13.5 million in 1648]
	- Caused massive inflation
	- Trade was crippled throughout Europe

# {} End
### == The Peace of Westphalia ==

Political Provisions
	- Each German prince became free from any kind of control by the Holy Roman Emperor
	- The United Provinces (Dutch Netherlands) became officially independent, so. part remained a sp. possession
	- France recieved most of the German speaking province of Alsace-Lorraine
	- Sweden got lands in Northern Germany on the baltic & black sea coasts
	- Switzerland became totally independent of the Holy Roman Emperor, Swiss Confederation
	- Sweden won a voice in the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire
	- Brandenburg got important territories on the North Sea and in central Germany