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Rebellious Heretics and Faithful Martyrs Media Polemics and the Symbolic Language of the ‘Bohemian Question’ Throughout the Thirty Years’ War

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Rebellious Heretics and Faithful Martyrs Media Polemics and the Symbolic Language of the ‘Bohemian Question’ Throughout the Thirty Years’ War Rebellious Heretics and Faithful Martyrs Media Polemics and the Symbolic Language of the ‘Bohemian Question’ Throughout the Thirty Years’ War By James Michael Gresock Submitted to Central European University Department of History In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Professor Matthias Riedl Second Reader: Professor György Szönyi CEU eTD Collection Central European University Budapest, Hungary June 2017 STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT Copyright in the text of this thesis rests with the Author. Copies by any process, either in full or part, may be made only in accordance with the instructions given by the Author and lodged in the Central European Library. Details may be obtained from the librarian. This page must form a part of any such copies made. Further copies made in accordance with such instructions may not be made without written permission of the Author. CEU eTD Collection i Abstract The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) stands as one of Europe’s defining conflicts. It is often referred to as Europe’s last religious war, yet questions of how much religion truly underwrote the war’s bloodshed yield varying conclusions. This work investigates the origins of the pervasive perception that religion was a primary concern that provoked thirty years of protracted and far-flung warfare. Justification for this evaluation is found in the birthplace of the war, the Kingdom of Bohemia. Specifically, conceptions of religious and political collaboration, which had been cultivated over the Bohemian Reformation, pervaded justifications for the evangelical Estates of Bohemia’s insurrection in 1618. This particular lexicon of unrest informed affective media products from the subsequent ‘Bohemian Phase’ and was quickly assimilated into a wider European context. From its origin in the Bohemian context, to its appropriation and application to other cases of radicalization, the particular details shifted to suit various circumstance, yet the underlying dynamics of intertwined religious and political conflict stuck throughout the war. The persistence of themes of traditional religious liberties, inviolable constitutional frameworks, and the just rule of kings, born in revolutionary Bohemia, outlived the kingdom’s experiment with self-rule, and survived to define historical perception of the war’s entirety. CEU eTD Collection ii Acknowledgements If a thesis is a labor of love—as it must be for all the work it entails—then its successful completion owes a substantial debt of gratitude to those who contributed to its fulfillment. It is easy to lose the individual behind the veil of words, pages, and chapters through which a master’s degree is concluded, and if this is the case in the present work, then at least the contributions of my friends, family, and colleagues ought not be similarly expunged. Over the course of two years, so many individuals have lent me their time, offered their guidance, and in innumerable other ways have aided the development of this thesis. Foremost, my parents, who unconditionally support me in everything I have ever undertaken, no matter how much distance it sometimes puts between us. Your constant encouragement and unconditional love enabled me to pursue the sort of academic fulfillment I have since been able to. You two, and my sister, Meg, have served as a foundation of support over these last two years. I really look forward to being closer to home. Nora, who has accompanied me through our thesis writing and our last several fortnights here at CEU. For providing me with mental respite from academia when I need it, and editing when I want it. Words cannot express how much the constancy of your affection, patience, and understanding means to me. My deepest thanks go out to those who have facilitated my work on the Czech lands. Specifically, my tutor and friend Lucie. Thank you so much for the help you have been to me. Additionally, those mentors who graciously brought under their wings. David Holeton for welcoming me into the field and for maintaining such friendly contact since. And those who will remain unnamed but welcomed my academic advances and showed interest in my work, thank you. Finally, a most sincere thanks goes out to the entire CEU community. My advisor Matthias Riedl and second reader György Szönyi, who have provided me with valuable guidance throughout the thesis process. And my friends, with whom I have countless memories, and for whom I harbor no doubt of their future success. CEU eTD Collection iii Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1 Medium and Message in Early Modern Europe ............................................................................... 4 Heresy, Majesty, and the Path to the Window ..................................................................................7 Building a Bohemian ....................................................................................................................... 10 Law of God – ‘Hussite’ Trial by Iron and Fire ........................................................................... 11 Institutional Identity – Estates Oligarchy ................................................................................... 16 A Bohemian Confession and the Fetters of Majesty ....................................................................... 20 Toleration Sub Utraque Specie ................................................................................................... 20 Confessional Conflict, Representative Resolution ...................................................................... 23 A Fall from on High – Throwing Identity out the Window ........................................................ 28 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Spilled Blood Seen Through Dried Ink ........................................................................................... 32 The Performative Function of a Window ....................................................................................... 34 Popular Politics ................................................................................................................................ 37 Popular Propaganda ........................................................................................................................ 41 Falling Between a Dung Heap and Angels Wings ....................................................................... 43 King and Kingdom .......................................................................................................................... 50 Emblemata Regia ......................................................................................................................... 51 Painting a Public Portrait ............................................................................................................ 55 A Spectacular Political Play with Religious Morals .................................................................... 59 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 63 “All eies are directed upon Bohemia” ......................................................................................... 63 The Lion, the Jesuits, and Popular Narrative in the War ................................................................ 65 The War After Bohemia .............................................................................................................. 68 The Winter Lion and the Jesuit Monarchy..................................................................................... 70 Frederick’s ‘Common Cause’...................................................................................................... 71 Captive Lion ................................................................................................................................. 77 Lionizing the Swede ......................................................................................................................... 82 CEU eTD Collection Politics of Persuasion ................................................................................................................... 84 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 92 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 94 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 96 iv Figures Figure 1: Wachender Adler - The Watchful Eagle. ................................................................................... 1 Figure 2: Warhafftige Zeitung aus Praag etc. ......................................................................................... 45 Figure 3: Kutná Hora account of the Defenestration. .............................................................................. 47 Figure 4: Royal ministers lowered to the ground by angels in Habsburg partisan depiction ..................... 49 Figure 5: The marriage of Frederick and Elizabeth, 1613 ....................................................................... 53 Figure 6:
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