Battle of Breitenfeld

The small Saxon village of Breitenfeld has long since been absorbed by the city of Leipzig. There isn’t that much to see there. There is no tourism to speak of and even people in the area have only a vague notion of the importance that their small town once held. In fact, in the fields to the east of the city was fought a battle that probably decided the direction of European (and thus Western) Civilization. The battle fought there was not just a clash of armies; it was a collision between religions

instead of city-states. Nearly one and a half centuries later, Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus would further advance the French artillery techniques and make modern modifications to the formation and maneuver of his troops during the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631 against Count Johann Tilly, an Imperial commander. Tilly formed his forces in seventeen tercios, large formation of pikemen and musketeers fifty men abreast and thirty men deep. This formation was deadly for everything in its forward

Years War. Their Lutheran king, Gustavus Adolphus, was one of the most significant leaders during the time of these religious wars. He was known as the "Father of Modern Warfare" due to his actions and contributions towards the Battle of Breitenfeld. In the Battle of Breitenfeld, the French supported the Swedish, they funded them while the Swedes fight. France is a Catholic country helping the Protestants because they value politics over religion. They are more concerned with the balance of power in

V B. Calvinists spread through Germany quickly 1. Calvinists began to claim acknowledgment for their rights 2. Added a third important belief to the area a. Not recognized in any way by the Augsburg term C. A battle primary between France and the Hapsburg II. Four Periods of War A. The Bohemian Period was from 1618-1625 1. Broke out after the conquest to the Bohemian throne in 1618 of the Habsburg Ferdinand

Background A thorough understanding of the Thirty Years’ War is essential in discussing the effects of the Peace of Westphalia. Religion dominated authority in Europe in the 16th century, namely Catholicism. However, dissatisfaction grew as the Protestant Reformation gained more followers, resulting in tension and divisions throughout the Holy Roman Empire. Weakened imperial power and unrest between ruler and subjects began as early as 1555. Although the Thirty Years’ War broke-out based on religious

The Thirty Years’ War began as a battle of religion in the Holy Roman Empire but soon became a battle over political power in Continental Europe. The Peace of Augsburg (1555), which was previously established in the Holy Roman Empire, had given a toleration to Lutherans and gave them a gateway to more political and religious power in their provinces. This new Lutheran power and the Calvinist power from the Letter of Majesty (1609), established by Rudolph II to tolerate Calvinism along with Lutheranism

Roman Catholic Absolutism on those that he was in control of. In response to this notion, Protestant nobles rebelled in Bohemia and Austria. Catholic forces prevailed in 1620 at the Battle of White Mountain when they defeated the Protestant rebellion. Tensions between the Catholics and Protestants remained after the Battle of White Mountain. After being elected emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1619, Ferdinand shifted his Catholic aims to the lands of Germany where he sought to spread Catholic influence

the Bohemians. Count Bucquoy, an Austrian Catholic, won a huge battle against the Protestants at Sablat in June of 1619. The battle caused the Protestant to loose an ally in Savoy. The Spanish sent an army under the command of Ambrosio Spinola to aid Ferdinand. In the fall of 1620, the Spanish and Holy Roman Empire's army advanced on the Protestant forces in Bohemia. On November 8, 1620, the Protestants were defeated at the Battle of the White Mountain. Fredrick's defeat earned him the nickname

Is the Notion of an Early Modern Military Revolution Tenable? The notion of an early modern military revolution is one which is a much debated subject among historians. Two historians who are very dominant in this field are Geoffrey Parker and Michael Roberts. Although they both agree that a military revolution occurred, they disagree on the timing of a revolution in war. Roberts argues that a military revolution started in 1560 and "by 1660, the modern art of war had come to birth." Parker

The Thirty Years’ War marked the end of Reformation and was the last major religious war in Europe. Whilst it started as a religious war between the Catholic Habsburg leader and the Protestant Bohemians in the Holy Roman Empire, during its progress it became a European war, where most of the dominant powers got involved. Soon the religious focus shifted and the war became more about power, influence and territories. The consequences of the war and the Treaty of Westphalia were long lasting and complex