Southeast Circuit Update: Week Forty Two Southeast Circuit Reformation Update: Week Forty Two The Thirty Years War The Thirty Years War

Rev. Adam Moline Rev. Adam Moline The 30 Years War lasted from May 23, 1618 to May 15, 1648. It can be divided The 30 Years War lasted from May 23, 1618 to May 15, 1648. It can be divided into four major phases: The , the Danish Intervention, the Swe- into four major phases: The Bohemian Revolt, the Danish Intervention, the Swe- dish Intervention, and finally the French Intervention. For 30 years the back and dish Intervention, and finally the French Intervention. For 30 years the back and forth struggle went on, one of the longest and deadliest wars of European histo- forth struggle went on, one of the longest and deadliest wars of European histo- ry. Almost all of Europe was involved in one way or another, but in the end it ry. Almost all of Europe was involved in one way or another, but in the end it left broke and weakened until the 1830’s. left Germany broke and weakened until the 1830’s. To explain 30 years of war in one page of writing is not possible, especially To explain 30 years of war in one page of writing is not possible, especially with all the political maneuvering and backstabbing between the various par- with all the political maneuvering and backstabbing between the various par- ties involved. Key to note is though the war began as a battle between Luther- ties involved. Key to note is though the war began as a battle between Luther- ans and Catholics, it evolved into a battle of nations states each seeking to ans and Catholics, it evolved into a battle of nations states each seeking to subjugate its neighbors for political power. Here’s a quick overview. subjugate its neighbors for political power. Here’s a quick overview. In 1555, shortly before abdicating the throne, Emperor Charles V signed the In 1555, shortly before abdicating the throne, Emperor Charles V signed the “Peace of Augsburg” with the Lutheran Smalkaldic League. This peace agree- “Peace of Augsburg” with the Lutheran Smalkaldic League. This peace agree- ment allowed the rulers of states to determine the religion of their state (Cuius ment allowed the rulers of states to determine the religion of their state (Cuius regio, eius religio—literally “whose realm, his religion”). The weakness of this regio, eius religio—literally “whose realm, his religion”). The weakness of this agreement was that it only accepted Lutherans or Catholics, leaving Calvinists agreement was that it only accepted Lutherans or Catholics, leaving Calvinists and Baptists as officially “unaccepted” religions. and Baptists as officially “unaccepted” religions. Around the year 1600 this peace agreement began to be tested by the for- Around the year 1600 this peace agreement began to be tested by the for- mation of two different military alliances: “The Protestant League” (led by a mation of two different military alliances: “The Protestant League” (led by a Calvinist) and the “.” This, along with several other minor re- Calvinist) and the “Catholic League.” This, along with several other minor re- volts and bad behavior on both sides, increased tensions between the volts and bad behavior on both sides, increased tensions between the “Catholic Hapsburgs” and the “Catholic Hapsburgs” and the Protestant dukes and rulers. Protestant dukes and rulers. In 1617, it was clear that a war would In 1617, it was clear that a war would come about when Holy Roman Em- come about when Holy Roman Em- peror, Mathias Hapsburg, would die peror, Mathias Hapsburg, would die without an heir, leaving his cousin without an heir, leaving his cousin Archduke Ferdinand as his succes- Archduke Ferdinand as his succes- sor. Ferdinand was a staunch Cath- sor. Ferdinand was a staunch Cath- olic with an extremely negative view olic with an extremely negative view of Protestants, and upon his election of Protestants, and upon his election as future King of , he or- as future King of Bohemia, he or- dered the cessation to the construc- dered the cessation to the construc- tion of several Protestant churches. tion of several Protestant churches. As a result Protestants became nerv- As a result Protestants became nerv- A Woodcut of the 2nd Defenestration of A Woodcut of the 2nd Defenestration of Prague ous about their new ruler. ous about their new ruler. 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation Southeast Circuit North Dakota District Southeast Circuit North Dakota District A meeting was arranged in Prague to discuss matters. The meeting did not go A meeting was arranged in Prague to discuss matters. The meeting did not go well. After reiterating that the Protestant chapels could not be built, the meeting well. After reiterating that the Protestant chapels could not be built, the meeting ended with the Second Defenestration of Prague, where the 4 Catholic representa- ended with the Second Defenestration of Prague, where the 4 Catholic representa- tives were thrown out of a 70 foot high window. (Yes—the second “out the window” tives were thrown out of a 70 foot high window. (Yes—the second “out the window” event in Prague!) event in Prague!) None died or were injured by the defenestration. The Catholic propaganda said None died or were injured by the defenestration. The Catholic propaganda said this was because angels appeared and carried them safely to the ground. The this was because angels appeared and carried them safely to the ground. The Protestants alleged they survived by landing in a pile of manure. Thus began the first Protestants alleged they survived by landing in a pile of manure. Thus began the first phase of the 30 Years War—the Bohemian Revolt. By the time of the entire war’s phase of the 30 Years War—the Bohemian Revolt. By the time of the entire war’s end , the average town had lost 30-40% of its inhabitants to war and disease, and end , the average town had lost 30-40% of its inhabitants to war and disease, and some casualties were as high as 75% dead. some casualties were as high as 75% dead. The Catholic League, led by the and with the aid of the The Catholic League, led by the Holy Roman Emperor and with the aid of the Spanish Hapsburgs, defeated the Protestant Union and its leader Frederick V multiple Spanish Hapsburgs, defeated the Protestant Union and its leader Frederick V multiple times, notably at the battle of White Mountain in 1620. This eventually led the dissolu- times, notably at the battle of White Mountain in 1620. This eventually led the dissolu- tion of the Protestant Union. Neighboring rulers aided Frederick V, as he sought to tion of the Protestant Union. Neighboring rulers aided Frederick V, as he sought to defend his own lands under attack by the Catholic army led by Johann Tserclaes, defend his own lands under attack by the Catholic army led by Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly. A notable protestant loss took place at the Battle of Stadtlohn in 1623, Count of Tilly. A notable protestant loss took place at the Battle of Stadtlohn in 1623, which led to the next phase of the war. which led to the next phase of the war. From 1625-1630, the Lutheran King Christian IV intervened in an attempt to stop the From 1625-1630, the Lutheran King Christian IV intervened in an attempt to stop the Protestants from being wiped out from the European mainland. At that time, Den- Protestants from being wiped out from the European mainland. At that time, Den- mark-Norway was one of the richest nations in Europe, and his advance was at first mark-Norway was one of the richest nations in Europe, and his advance was at first funded by the Catholic French rulers who despised the Hapsburgs. However, civil funded by the Catholic French rulers who despised the Hapsburgs. However, civil war in France with the Huguenots led to the French reneging on their commitment, war in France with the Huguenots led to the French reneging on their commitment, leaving Christian IV negotiating with the Catholic general , leaving Christian IV negotiating with the Catholic general Albrecht von Wallenstein, who had superior numbers in his army. who had superior numbers in his army. In the midst of the negotiations, when things seemed bleak indeed for the In the midst of the negotiations, when things seemed bleak indeed for the Protestants, the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus arrived. While he was Lutheran, his Protestants, the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus arrived. While he was Lutheran, his arrival represents a shift in the war, changing things from a religious war to a political arrival represents a shift in the war, changing things from a religious war to a political war. He soundly defeated the Catholic army in battle after battle, winning back war. He soundly defeated the Catholic army in battle after battle, winning back conquered Protestant lands until he was killed at the battle of Lutzen in 1632. Adol- conquered Protestant lands until he was killed at the battle of Lutzen in 1632. Adol- phus became a hero for many Lutherans, and is famous for having his army sing “O phus became a hero for many Lutherans, and is famous for having his army sing “O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe” (LSB 666) before the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. That Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe” (LSB 666) before the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. That hymn became the battle anthem of the Protestant Lutherans. hymn became the battle anthem of the Protestant Lutherans. Without Adolphus’ leadership, the Protestants again began to lose battles. Howev- Without Adolphus’ leadership, the Protestants again began to lose battles. Howev- er, the Civil War in France ended, allowing the French to reenter the battle. Catholic er, the Civil War in France ended, allowing the French to reenter the battle. Catholic France fought on the side of the Protestant army, out of fear of the growing power of France fought on the side of the Protestant army, out of fear of the growing power of the Hapsburg monarchy. the Hapsburg monarchy. Beginning in 1643, the French, the Swedes, and the Hapsburgs began to meet in Beginning in 1643, the French, the Swedes, and the Hapsburgs began to meet in the town of Westphalia to bring the war to an end. They finally signed the Peace of the town of Westphalia to bring the war to an end. They finally signed the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Westphalia in 1648. Many famous people were involved in the war throughout its years, including phi- Many famous people were involved in the war throughout its years, including phi- losopher Rene Descartes, Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIV, the Sun King. Most im- losopher Rene Descartes, Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIV, the Sun King. Most im- portantly though, the Christian faith survived despite terrible atrocities that occurred. portantly though, the Christian faith survived despite terrible atrocities that occurred. After the war ended, Lutherans were free to be Lutherans, and Catholics were free After the war ended, Lutherans were free to be Lutherans, and Catholics were free to be Catholics. Nationalism, not religion, became the new defining force for the to be Catholics. Nationalism, not religion, became the new defining force for the existence of states. existence of states. As for Lutherans, some of our most beloved and precious hymns were written in this As for Lutherans, some of our most beloved and precious hymns were written in this period, especially by Paul Gerhardt, who witnessed first hand the death and destruc- period, especially by Paul Gerhardt, who witnessed first hand the death and destruc- tion of the 30 Years War. Gerhardt wrote “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” “Now tion of the 30 Years War. Gerhardt wrote “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” “Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow,” “O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is,” “O Sacred Head Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow,” “O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is,” “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” and more, with the realities of a sinful world firm in his mind as he wrote. Wounded,” and more, with the realities of a sinful world firm in his mind as he wrote.

Next Week: Johann Sebastian Bach—Rev. Sean Daenzer Next Week: Johann Sebastian Bach—Rev. Sean Daenzer