The Thirty Years War

Rather than an analytical approach that examines the deeper "forces" behind events, this book describes what individuals did, what they were probably thinking, and what the impacts of their actions were. It offers a cool, if vivid, feel for the cataclysmic events of 1618-1648, the so-called "last" war of religion in Europe, very much more from the heart than the head. That is exactly what I wanted, having reading several more abstruse books written for academics.The war started in 1618 with the rigid catholicizing policy of Ferdinand II in Bohemia (a Habsburg), appointing ideologically pure Catholics into a number of traditionally lay or tolerant offices. This led to the defenistration of some of these characters and brought Frederick II down from the Palatine to claim the area in the name of protestant freedoms, though he didn't mind gaining the territories and titles. Both were limited characters of spirit but mediocre minds, who refused to apologize and move on once the lands changed hands again in a few years and when the whole thing might have blown over as a minor territorial skirmish.This irresolution brought in some new players, including Maximilian of Bavaria, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, then a bit later Philip IV of Spain (a Habsburg) and the ruthless Richelieu, representing Bourbon interests, which were opposed to their Habsburg cousins for nationalist considerations. Finally, there were the many bit players - petty nobility in a plethora of German territories - as well as the Dutch, who were in an independence war with Spain and an ascendant trading power. They created a mix of shifting alliances, autonomous mercenaries who easily switched sides, and ambitious nobles (like Wallenstein) who benefited from the confiscations of lands in accordance with religious criteria.The result was a war as complex as any imaginable. The principal victims were the peasants, who had no skin in the game other than supplying occupying armies that plundered, raped, and murdered them with abandon. Whole cities were wiped off the map in genocidal action, thousands of refugees depopulated entire regions, and disease took care of the others. Though it is impossible to know what percentage of the population died in Germany, it is clear that it could be up to 60%.Whenever peace could have been imposed in this multi-polar scenario, the principal actors failed to do so when the opportunity arose, pursuing instead their own selfish interests, which were as diverse as each individual or state. In other words, it was a mix of religious fanaticism, ideology, issues of princely autonomy, geopolitics, and simple greed or the pursuit of glory, territory, an elector's seat or whatever. Thus, the war dragged on for more than a generation, sucking everything into its void.Eventually, generational changes forced the players' hands, e.g. Ferdinand III took over for the Austrian Habsburg Empire, mostly from naked exhaustion or death. Dutch independence was won, Austria was permanently alienated from playing the role of uniting power for the rest of Germany, Spain entered its final decline, Sweden and Bavaria withdrew in exhaustion, and France emerged as the Continent's great new power.When Wedgwood takes up what it all means, her reasoning appears a bit dated. She was writing in the 1930s, with the Great War in mind and fearing that a new war was brewing with Hitler's Germany. She concludes that the war solved nothing and that war only leads to more war. Clearly, smashing Hitler was the next thing the international community needed to do to ensure the survival of western civilization. I'm sure many thought the same thing in 1618, even if they were wrong in that context. Furthermore, with the breakdown of the nation-state as some are predicting (e.g. Van Creveld), the 30 Years War may serve as a cautionary tale to the world we are creating today. Once again, this catastrophe is relevant with a chilling immediacy.Aside from all that, this is a really fun read. It is elegantly written, intelligent, and deep. I loved it. Recommended so long as the reader knows its limitations.

War is hell, just imagine it lasting for an entire generation with armies crisscrossing the same ground again and again producing famine, depopulation, and disease all in the name of religion, nationalism, and then finally simple greed. C.V. Wedgwood’s The Thirty Years War covers nearly a half century of history from the causes that led to the conflict through its deadly progression and finally it’s aftereffects.From the outset Wedgwood sets the German domestic and the continental political situations in focus by stating that everyone was expecting war but between Spain and the Dutch while the German economy was on the decline due to the rise of new trading patterns over the course of the last century. It was only with the succession of the Bohemian throne and the ultra-Catholic policies of the Ferdinand II after his election that started the war everyone knew was coming, sooner and further east than expected. The war began as a purely religious conflict that saw the Catholic German princes led by Emperor Ferdinand crush the Protestant opposition because many of the Protestants decided not to help one another until it was too late due to political conservatism that Ferdinand used to his advantage. It wasn’t until Gustavus Adolphus and the Swedes entered the conflict a decade later that the conflict turn slowly from religious to international and an extension of the Bourbon-Habsburg in which the former used first allies then their own troops to prevent the encirclement of France by both branches of the Habsburgs. The negotiations for the end of the war took nearly five years and would change as events in the field would change strategies until finally allied members of the Bourbon and Habsburgs would cut deals with the other side to quickly break deadlocks and achieve peace but how it took almost six years to stand down the armies to prevent chaos.Wedgwood’s narrative historical style keeps the book a very lively read and makes the war’s progress advancing even when she’s relating how the continuous fighting was affecting the German population. She is very upfront with the men, and a few women, who influenced the conflict throughout it’s course from the great kings of Ferdinand II, Christian IV of Denmark, and Gustavus to the great princes Maximillian I of Bavaria, John George of Saxony, and Frederick Henry of Orange to the mercenary generals that gained in importance as the conflict continued like Albrecht von Wallenstein to finally the political masterminds of Richelieu and Mazarin. With such a large historical cast, Wedgwood’s writing keeps things simple and straight for the read thus allowing the conflict’s long drawn out nature to fully impact the reader and how it affected those out of power. And in describing the aftereffects, Wedgwood disarms many myths about the effects of the war that over three hundred years became considered fact.The Thirty Years War by C.V. Wedgwood is an excellent narrative history of a conflict that saw the end of one kind of conflict and the beginnings of another with interesting personalities that fought and conducted policy around it while also showing the effects on the whole population. If you’re interested in seventeenth-century history or military history, this book is for you.

This is a rip-roaring read! It’s pacey and informed, yet easy for the amateur history buff to absorb and understand. It’s also full of interesting facts, for example, did you know that the phrase ‘is the pope a catholic, originated during the 30 years war? Me neither! The book is littered with Latin phrases, which I didn’t understand. But, with the Internet nowadays, it’s no hindrance to the enjoyment of the book. Once you get your head round the factions; the similar names (Frederick/Ferdinand); and the constant switching of sides, you will enjoy this tale of woe, pestilence and wanton destruction. If the 30 years war has a modern equivalent, you can see it in the rise of IS and AQ, or perhaps in Syria. If it was a warning from history on the pointlessness of unnecessary conflict, it hasn’t, IMHO, been heeded.

This book, despite having been written in the 1930s shows no signs of age. Despite more recent scholarly works (and I have no wish to disparage Peter Wilson's magisterial account of the wars) there is no book which more clearly sets out the events of this European tragedy. Wedgwood is quite clear that this was not simply a 'religious war.' and she presents the whole tapestry with writing of great power and sympathy. Anyone with any interest in this European war fought on German soil should read this book. It is difficult to imagine that it will ever be surpassed.

Would *definitely* recommend to anyone! Caroline Wedgwood makes the whole period come to life; anyone reading this would have thought she was actually there. A rare blend of first class scholarship of wide-ranging appeal, which mixes well-researched facts with a strong moral approach to the vicissitudes and horrors of the war. Wedgwood is equally skilled at microscopic analysis of battlefield movements and diplomatic exchanges as she is at zooming right out and providing a God's eye view of the whole 30 year period, its causes in the previous century, and its lasting echos down to the Europe of her own day.

Wedgewood had an innate talent for finding the drama in any event. The Thirty Years War, a combination of numerous religious, political and economic factors, was probably the most defining moment in European history until the First World War, and so it should be ripe with royal drama, thrilling exploits, military spectacles and political intrigue. Wedgewood exposes all of these elements into a thrilling read, steeped in historical significance and weighty writing, which still maintains the informative aura of a well-researched scholarly effort on a key historical event. Anyone interested in the War and it's background should start with this book first, it's the middle-ground between storytelling and teaching.

Probably one of the most arcane, uninspiring and boring books I've ever read. Reads like a telephone directory. I think the author must have been given a topic to write about which he hated. It certainly feels like it. Have to admit, I only made it 2/3 the way through. Its SOLID!The charity shop got it... With my apologies.