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THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR

PROTESTANTS

CATHOLICS

Frederick of Bohemia

THE PROTESTANT LEAGUE
Elector Palatine = Frederick of Bohemia who was the leader of the Protestant princes in the HRE

Duke Maximillian of Bavaria

 THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE
The leader was Duke Maximillian of Bavaria. Their most famous player was General Tilly.

King Christian IV

 DENMARK
Led by King Christian IV
Financially supported by Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu in FRANCE.
Emperor Ferdinand II HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Led by Emperor Ferdinand II. Their most famous player was General Wallenstein.
King Gustavus Adolphus SWEDEN
Led by King Gustavus Adolphus
Financially supported by Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu in FRANCE.

King Philip IV

 SPAIN
Led by King Philip IV. Their most famous player was the General Duke Olivares.

Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange

 NETHERLANDS
Led by the House of Orange. Financially supported by Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu in FRANCE.
MAIN MATCHES DATE RESULTS
Defenestration of Prague 1618 P. League 

1

HRE 

0

Battle of White Hill 1620 P. League 

0

C. League 

1

Battle of Lutter 1626 Denmark

0

C. League + HRE

1

Sacking of Magdeberg 1631 P. League 

0

C. League 

1

Battle of Leipzig 1632 Sweden

1

C. League 

0

Battle of Lützen 1632 Sweden

1

HRE

0

Victory of Rocroi 1643 France (late entry)

1

Spain

0

Chronology of the Thirty Years’ War

1618 The Defenestration of Prague

1619 Protestant Bohemia refuses to offer the crown to the Emperor Ferdinand II. The Emperor defeats the Bohemians and imposes the Catholic religion.

1623 Protestant states go to war against the Emperor. Wallenstein leads the Emperor’s victorious army.

1624 Protestant Dutch join the conflict closely followed by Catholic Spain.

1625 The Protestant Danish army moves into imperial territory to try to stop Wallenstein. The Danes are unsuccessful and give up their effort in 1629.

1630 The Protestant Swedish Army, financed by Catholic France, moves into imperial territory. Gustavus Aldolphus leads his troops in many victories.

1631 The Battle of Breitenfield (a Swedish Victory)

1632 The Battle of Lüten (another Swedish victory) Gustavus Aldolphus is killed in battle.

1633 Battle of Steinan (an imperial victory)

1634 Arrest and murder of Wallenstein

1635 Catholic France finances Protestant Holland as well as Sweden in the war. French troops are sent into battle against Imperial troops.

1639 Catholic Spain loses control of the Atlantic sea route.

1643 Spanish army defeated by French at Rocroi.

1648 Emperor capitulates: Treaty of Westphalia
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updated on 11/11/07
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©  Shirley Burchill, Nigel Hughes, Richard Gale, Peter Price and Keith Woodall 2007

Footnote : As far as the Open Door team can ascertain the  images shown on this page are in the Public Domain.