Cultural, Political, & Religious Effects of the Division Between Protestantism & Catholicism

The Thirty Years’ War

The Thirty Years War was one of the most destructive & longest continuous war in European history.

It’s true cause is debated among historians, however, on a broader level, the war was:A conflict between Protestants and CatholicsA conflict between two powerful ruling families in

Europe, the Bourbon (France) and Hapsburgs (Spain & Austria)

To truly understand what helped cause the war, we have to look back into an event that occurred in Germany, during the Protestant Reformation…

Origins and Causes?

As Lutheranism spread throughout Germany, the Catholic Church struggled to accept rise of Protestantism. The Holy Roman Emperor threatened to invade

the already fragmented German states. Attempting to force the still-loyal Catholic

German states into his armies, he attempted to attack the Northern German states & force them back to Catholicism.

Result? The Catholic states refused the Holy Roman Emperor & threatened war against his forces by joining forces with their Protestant, German brothers in the north.

Consequences of Lutheranism….

The Holy Roman Emperor was forced to sign the Peace of Augsburg, which stated:German states had the right to freedom of religion as

dictated by the German prince in power over the state.

The Holy Roman Emperor no longer held the authority to interfere in the independence of sovereign kingdoms.

Underlying effects?Allowed the unencumbered spread of ProtestantismFrance realized it was surrounded by lands controlled

by the powerful family, the Hapsburgs (Spain & Holy Roman Empire)

Religious tensions remained high in Europe

Peace of Augsburg

Ferdinand II inherited the throne as king of Bohemia, but he was also to be the Holy Roman Emperor by default, as he was born into the Hapsburg family.He believed in ruling with absolute authority. He was a devout Catholic and was determined

to reclaim its power over the Protestant kingdoms of Central Europe

Ferdinand II’s power led to revolts across Bohemia and other Protestant kingdoms.These revolts led to clashes between armies of

Protestant forces & those loyal to Ferdinand II.

Cause of 30 Years War?

The 30 Years War is the 1st war to encompass most lands in Europe.Most of the fighting occurred in German lands

as Germany sought to help the Bohemians.Sweden joined the war to help the Protestant

cause. They sent their superior general, Gustavus Adolphus to help lead the Protestant forces.

France, though Catholic, joined to help the Protestants due to their fear/hatred of growing Hapsburg power.

Once France joined the war, the Catholic forces under Ferdinand II crumbled.

France & Sweden Join…

Treaty of Westphalia is a significant document for several reasons:1st peace treaty among multiple kingdoms of EuropeEnded religious wars in Europe permanentlyHoly Roman Emperor (& the Hapsburg family) no

longer held political power over other sovereign nations.

Geographically, there were winners & losers:Western European kingdoms established their fixed

bordersCentral Europe remained a cluster of feudal statesGerman attempts to unite into a country were ruined

as the German states were weakened by the war

Treaty of Westphalia Ends the War

Consequences of the War:Casualties:

Germany suffered the most: (depending on the German state) anywhere between 25%-40% of the population declined.

Czech lands also suffered from population declines: Roughly 1/3 of Bohemian population died during the war.

Swedish armies wreaked havoc: they destroyed 18,000 villages and up to 2,000 castles in total.

Disease:Typhus & bubonic plague re-emerged:

It is believed they were spread as armies moved across European lands

Many peasants moved to the villages/towns to escape the war. The overcrowding led to increased famine & disease

Political Issues:German unification was haltedHapsburg-Bourbon tensions continued as Spain

& France remained at war after the Treaty of Westphalia

The Spanish were forever forced to accept the independence of their former colony: the Dutch.

Consequences of the War Cont’d: