Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to Western SIEV. Episode three hundred and
Speaker 1: thirty nine. Denmark intervenes. So the year is now sixteen
Speaker 1: twenty six. The Thirty Years War has been raging across
Speaker 1: Europe for about six years, and the Protestant forces of Denmark,
Speaker 1: led by their ambitious King Christian four, are now facing
Speaker 1: a formidable foe, the Catholic Imperial Army, under the command
Speaker 1: of their season in general, the Count of Tilly, now
Speaker 1: Christian fourth, is already a warrior king. In fact, he's
Speaker 1: known for his bold and decisive actions in battle. He
Speaker 1: entered the war with high hopes, aiming to champion the
Speaker 1: Protestant cause and expand Danish influence in northern Germany. But
Speaker 1: eventually the tide is going to turn against him. A
Speaker 1: series of defeats will weaken his army and his once
Speaker 1: bright prospects will start to quickly dim. At this point,
Speaker 1: the stage becomes set for a decisive confrontation at the
Speaker 1: Battle of luter Brenberg, which is really our first decisive
Speaker 1: battle since the Battle of Waite Mountain. Christian the Fourth,
Speaker 1: despite some of the setbacks, remained proud and headstrong. He
Speaker 1: made a fateful decision, however, prior to the battle, he
Speaker 1: decided to divide his forces. He sent a detachment to
Speaker 1: join the Count of Wallenstein, a powerful imperial general with
Speaker 1: whom he had formed a somewhat shaky alliance, while Christian
Speaker 1: the fourth remained with his main army. This decision would
Speaker 1: prove to be a grave miscalculation. Tilley, who as we know,
Speaker 1: was an excellent, cunning, and ruthless commander, he seized upon
Speaker 1: this opportunity presented by the divided Danish forces. He focused
Speaker 1: his attack on Christian the Fourth's weakened left flank, launching
Speaker 1: furious assault after furious assault in the battle that overwhelmed
Speaker 1: the Danish defenses. Making matters worse, the Danish baggage train,
Speaker 1: carrying vital supplies and specifically artillery, was quickly routed and
Speaker 1: captured by Tilly's forces, removing Christian the Fourth's artillery from
Speaker 1: the battle in one fell swoop. The loss of the
Speaker 1: baggage train proved to be a devastating blow to the
Speaker 1: Danish army. Demoralized and lacking essential provisions, their resistance quickly crumbled.
Speaker 1: Christian the Fourth, realizing that the battle was lost, ordered
Speaker 1: a hasty retreat. This effectively ended the once mighty Danish
Speaker 1: army's role in the battle, which was now shattered and
Speaker 1: defeated and fled the field. The Battle of Luton Arterberg
Speaker 1: marked a turning point in the Thirty Years War and
Speaker 1: honestly the end of the effort of the Danes to
Speaker 1: gain control over the region of northern Germany. Christian the Fourth,
Speaker 1: forced to abandon the mainland and seek refuge on his ships,
Speaker 1: had suffered a humiliating defeat. The victory cemented Imperial control
Speaker 1: over northern Germany and also, of course, Catholic control over
Speaker 1: Northern Germany. Now, of course, I said that Christian divided
Speaker 1: his forces. So meanwhile, on the other front of the
Speaker 1: sprawling conflict, another imperial general, Wallenstein, was engaged in a
Speaker 1: campaign in Upper Germany. Now, his objective was to subdue
Speaker 1: the rebellious Transylvanian Prince Bethlen. Wallenstein, known for his strategic brilliance,
Speaker 1: had envisioned a swift and decisive campaign. However, unforeseen circumstances
Speaker 1: quickly delayed his plans and tested his resolve. The harvest
Speaker 1: season had arrived and the logistical demands of gathering crops
Speaker 1: slowed Wallenstein's advance. The delay proved costly, as it allowed
Speaker 1: Bethlen the opportunity to see the strategic city of Buddha
Speaker 1: before Wallenstein could intervene. This is half of the modern
Speaker 1: day Budapest. To add to his woes, Wallenstein's army was
Speaker 1: struck by disease, further weakening his forces. Now, despite all
Speaker 1: these setbacks, Wallenstein was not deterred. He regrouped his forces
Speaker 1: and negotiated a treaty with Bethlen in December of sixteen
Speaker 1: twenty six, securing a temporary truce. The treaty, though not
Speaker 1: a complete victory, allowed Wallenstein to extricate his army from
Speaker 1: a difficult situation and regroup for future campaigns. Back in
Speaker 1: the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, the political landscape
Speaker 1: had now started to shift. The growing power of Wallenstein
Speaker 1: and the imperial forces were causing unease amongst many of
Speaker 1: the German princes. They feared that the Emperor Ferdinand the
Speaker 1: Second was using the war as an excuse to consolidate
Speaker 1: his power and to erode the traditional liberties. Frankly, they're
Speaker 1: probably right now. To address these concerns, there was an
Speaker 1: electoral congress held in sixteen twenty seven in the city
Speaker 1: of Mulhausen. His gathering of the most powerful princes of
Speaker 1: the Empire was intended to discuss the pressing issues of
Speaker 1: the war and ideally the future of the empire itself. However,
Speaker 1: the Congress was dominated by the Emperor and his supporters,
Speaker 1: who sought to maintain and even expand their grip on power.
Speaker 1: One of the most vocal critics of Wallenstein and the
Speaker 1: emperor's policies was Maximilian of Bavaria, a powerful prince who
Speaker 1: had emerged as a leading figure in the Catholic League.
Speaker 1: This again illustrates the fallacy in claiming that the Thirty
Speaker 1: Years War was all about religion, because here we have
Speaker 1: a leading Catholic complaining about a Catholic emperor expanding his power.
Speaker 1: Maximilian accused Wallenstein of exceeding his authority and undermining the
Speaker 1: rights of the princes. He called for reforms to curb
Speaker 1: Ollenstein's power and restore the balance of power within the empire. Now,
Speaker 1: despite Maximilian's rather impassioned please, the Congress failed to achieve
Speaker 1: any meaningful reforms. The Emperor, determined to pursue his goal
Speaker 1: of a united Catholic Empire, resisted any attempts whatsoever to
Speaker 1: limit his authority. Ferdinand really now for the first time,
Speaker 1: saw the Thirty Years War as the opportunity to turn
Speaker 1: the Holy Roman Empire into something that looked a lot
Speaker 1: more like France or Spain or England, a united sovereign
Speaker 1: state led by a king. Now the Congress ended in
Speaker 1: a stalemate, leaving the underlying tensions unresolved and continuing to
Speaker 1: set the stage for future conflict. While the political machinations
Speaker 1: of the Empire played out, Christian the Fourth of Denmark,
Speaker 1: licking his wounds after the defeat of luder Bredenberg, was
Speaker 1: forced to come to terms with the reality of his situation.
Speaker 1: Sprout warrior king, now humbled by defeat, had no choice.
Speaker 1: He had to make peace with his enemies. So in
Speaker 1: sixteen twenty nine, Christian signed the Piece of Lubeck, formally
Speaker 1: ending Denmark's involvement in the Thirty Years War. The treaty
Speaker 1: allowed Christian fourth the ability to retain his throne, though
Speaker 1: it was still a tough pill to swallow. However, he
Speaker 1: was forced to see territory, and he had to pay
Speaker 1: a heavy indemnity, a stark reminder of his failed ambitions,
Speaker 1: and honestly a warning to other foreign nations about the
Speaker 1: risks of getting involved in this never ending conflict. Now,
Speaker 1: the piece of Lubec marks the end of one chapter
Speaker 1: in what is going to be the long and bloody
Speaker 1: saga of the Thirty Years War. But of course we're
Speaker 1: only six or seven years in year, so the conflict
Speaker 1: is far from over. New actors are about to emerge
Speaker 1: on the stage, and the battle will continue to raid
Speaker 1: for years to come. But that will be right after this.
Speaker 1: As the year sixteen twenty eight dawned across Europe, the
Speaker 1: Thirty Years War continued to rage. To the north, a
Speaker 1: new power was rising in the person of Gustavus Adolphus,
Speaker 1: the ambitious young King of Sweden, who now set his
Speaker 1: sights on expanding his power base in the Baltic region.
Speaker 1: Gustavus Adolphus, also known as Gustave the Second adolph was
Speaker 1: born on December the ninth, fifteen ninety four, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Speaker 1: He was the eldest son of King Charles the tenth
Speaker 1: of Sweden and Queen Christina of Holstein Orp. Gustavus was
Speaker 1: part of the Basa dynasty, a royal family that played
Speaker 1: a crucial role in establishing Sweden as a European power.
Speaker 1: Gustavus Adolphus grew up during a period of intense political
Speaker 1: and religious turbulence. His father, Charles the Tenth, was a
Speaker 1: staunch supporter of Protestantism and had taken the throne after
Speaker 1: a power struggle with his Catholic half brother, Sigismund the Third,
Speaker 1: who was both the king of Poland and Sweden until
Speaker 1: he was dethroned by Charles in fifteen ninety nine. This
Speaker 1: conflict would set the stage for Gustalfus's reign and broader
Speaker 1: conflicts in the era, including the Thirty Years War. From
Speaker 1: a young age, Gustavus was groomed to rule. His education
Speaker 1: was rigorous and focused on subjects essential for a future king.
Speaker 1: He studied languages, law, history, military tactics, and diplomacy. By
Speaker 1: the time he was a teenager, he was fluent in
Speaker 1: several languages, including Latin, German, Dutch, French, an Italian, along
Speaker 1: with his native Swedish. His early education also included classical
Speaker 1: studies in military theory, setting the stage and foundation for
Speaker 1: his future as a military strategist. Gustavus's early years were
Speaker 1: marked by a strong involvement in politics, and military affairs.
Speaker 1: As a teenager, he was already participating in the meetings
Speaker 1: of the Rikstag, the Swedish parliament, and was introduced to
Speaker 1: the complexities of governance and state craft. He demonstrated a
Speaker 1: keen interest in military matters, often accompanying his father on
Speaker 1: campaigns and learning about leadership right on the battlefield. In
Speaker 1: sixteen eleven, at the age of sixteen, Gustavus officially became
Speaker 1: king after the death of his father, Charles the ninth.
Speaker 1: His ascension to the throne was during a very difficult period,
Speaker 1: as Sweden was involved already in multiple conflicts. In fact,
Speaker 1: his country was at war with Denmark, Norway, Russia, and
Speaker 1: pol in Lithuania, making the young king's early years quite
Speaker 1: the baptism by fire. These challenges, however, shaped Gustavus's approach
Speaker 1: to governance and military strategy, as he had to prove
Speaker 1: himself capable of leading the country through a series of
Speaker 1: external threats. In the first few years of his reign,
Speaker 1: Gustavs showed a remarkable skill in managing both domestic and
Speaker 1: foreign affairs. He was known for his intelligence, charisma, and
Speaker 1: dedication to his role as king. During his early reign,
Speaker 1: Gustavus initiated a series of military and administrative reforms that
Speaker 1: would eventually transform Sweden into a leading European power. His
Speaker 1: reforms included the modernization of the Swedish army, which we'll
Speaker 1: talk about in much greater detail in the next episode,
Speaker 1: the establishment of a standing army, an improvement in the
Speaker 1: country's finances and bureaucracy. These early experiences laid the groundwork
Speaker 1: for Gustavus Adolphus's rise as a formidable military leader and
Speaker 1: central figure in the Thirty Years War. In fact, as
Speaker 1: we will see next time, he's going to become known
Speaker 1: as the Lion of the North. His innovative military tactics
Speaker 1: and leadership would later influence European warfare and establish Sweden
Speaker 1: temporarily as a dominant force on the continent. Now, the
Speaker 1: defeat of his Danish rival, Christianed the Fourth at the
Speaker 1: hands of imperial forces in sixteen twenty six left a
Speaker 1: power vacuum that Gustavus Adolphus was eager to fill. He
Speaker 1: immediately launched a bold invasion of Livonia, which was at
Speaker 1: that time a Polish possession, igniting a new front in
Speaker 1: the already expanding conflict. Gustavus Adolphus's invasion was met with
Speaker 1: stiff resistance by the Polish king Sigismund the Third, his uncle.
Speaker 1: These two monarchs clashed in a series of bloody battles,
Speaker 1: with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. The
Speaker 1: war in the Baltic region quickly became a brutal stalemate,
Speaker 1: a back and forth fight that drained the resources of
Speaker 1: both kingdoms. Now, while this was going on in the
Speaker 1: heart of the Holy Roman Empire, Ferdinand the Second, the
Speaker 1: Habsburg Emperor, saw an opportunity to exploit the chaos and
Speaker 1: further his own ambitions. He dreamt of a restored Catholic dominance,
Speaker 1: a return to the glory days of the Holy Roman
Speaker 1: Empire prior to the Protestant Reformation. Now, the war in
Speaker 1: the Baltic gave Ferdinand the perfect excuse to intervene and
Speaker 1: to expand imperial influence northward and challenge the growing power
Speaker 1: of Protestant states like Sweden and Denmark. Ferdinand found a
Speaker 1: willing instrument in Wallenstein, was, as we know, a brilliant
Speaker 1: but ruthless general who rose to prominence through military success. Wallenstein,
Speaker 1: ever eager for power or glory shared in the Emperor's
Speaker 1: vision of a resurgent Holy Roman Empire. He saw the
Speaker 1: Baltic as a strategic prize, a key to controlling both
Speaker 1: trade and projecting imperial power. Wallenstein's ambitions expanded beyond the Baltic.
Speaker 1: He laid siege to the key city of Strassland, a
Speaker 1: key member of the Hanseatic League, the old trading league
Speaker 1: that used to dominate commerce along the Baltic region and
Speaker 1: throughout northern Germany. His goal there was to establish a
Speaker 1: naval base that would give the Empire control of the
Speaker 1: vital sea lanes. The siege of Strassland quickly became a
Speaker 1: focal point of the struggle for dominance in the Baltic,
Speaker 1: a clash between Wallenstein's imperial ambitions and the determination of
Speaker 1: the Hanseatic League to maintain its independence. But the war
Speaker 1: in the Baltic was only one theater in this unfolding conflict.
Speaker 1: In Italy, the death of Binche of the second Gonzaga,
Speaker 1: Duke of Mantua triggered a succession crisis that managed now
Speaker 1: to draw these clashing powers south. Charles de Nevers, a
Speaker 1: French nobleman, claimed the duchy, while the Habsburg's back arrival claimant.
Speaker 1: The dispute quickly escalated, with France and Spain already locked
Speaker 1: in the bitter rivalry, intervening on opposing sides. Italy then
Speaker 1: became a new battleground in the struggle for European supremacy,
Speaker 1: a bloody side show, however, to the main conflict in Germany,
Speaker 1: but yet another indication of why there were so many
Speaker 1: driving forces that just kept the conflagration of the Thirty
Speaker 1: Years' War going year after year after year. Meanwhile, in France,
Speaker 1: Cardinal Richelieu, the ambitious chief minister of King Louis, was
Speaker 1: determined to consolidate royal power and crush his opposition. He
Speaker 1: saw the Huguenots, the French Protestant minority, as a threat
Speaker 1: to his plan, and so while the conflict was going
Speaker 1: on in Germany, in sixteen twenty seven, Richelieu launched a
Speaker 1: siege of La Rochelle. As we can probably remember from
Speaker 1: the episodes of Henry the Fourth, the Hugenots' most important stronghold,
Speaker 1: that was where he retreated to and reconsolidated power before
Speaker 1: taking back the throne. The siege of La Rochelle became
Speaker 1: sort of a test of will between Richelieu's determination to
Speaker 1: crush the Huguenots and the huguenots desperate fight for survival.
Speaker 1: The siege of La Rochelle also had international ramifications. England,
Speaker 1: still under the leadership of King Charles the First, sent
Speaker 1: a fleet to relieve the city, but this English intervention
Speaker 1: was ultimately unsuccessful, and La Rochelle fell to Richelieu's forces
Speaker 1: in sixteen twenty eight. The fall of La Rochelle marked
Speaker 1: a major victory for Richelieu and a significant blow to
Speaker 1: the Hugenot cause. That's going to have major implications for
Speaker 1: Huguenots in France going forward, forward, all the way honestly
Speaker 1: through the French Revolution. As the wars in the Baltic
Speaker 1: Italy and France rage on, Ferdinand the Second made a
Speaker 1: faithful decision in sixteen twenty nine, he issued the famous
Speaker 1: Edict of Restitution. This was a decree that sought to
Speaker 1: restore all Catholic church lands that had been secularized since
Speaker 1: fifteen fifty two. The Edict of Restitution was honestly nothing
Speaker 1: less than an attempt to roll back the entire Reformation.
Speaker 1: It was a provocation that literally set on fire all
Speaker 1: Protestants across the Empire. It was a gamble. It was
Speaker 1: a bold stroke that Ferdinand the Second hoped would strengthen
Speaker 1: his position and secure essentially perpetual Catholic dominance. Wallenstein was
Speaker 1: tasked with implementing the Edict of Restitution in territory under
Speaker 1: his controls, and he carried out his orders with ruthless efficiency,
Speaker 1: seizing Protestant lands left and right and restoring them to
Speaker 1: the Catholic Church. His actions only further alienated the Protestants
Speaker 1: and contributed to growing unrest in the Empire. In the end,
Speaker 1: the Edict of Restitution proved to be a major miscalculation.
Speaker 1: It backfired spectacularly, fueling resentment among Protestants and sparking resistance.
Speaker 1: Any fragile piece that had existed in any part of
Speaker 1: the Empire at all immediately collapsed, and the war spread further.
Speaker 1: So the year sixteen thirty ended with Europe engulfed in
Speaker 1: essentially now a continent wide conflict. Gustavis Adolphus, having secured
Speaker 1: his position in the Baltic, now prepared to intervene in Germany,
Speaker 1: bringing with him a powerful Swedish army that could tip
Speaker 1: the balance of war. Richelieu in France. Emboldened now by
Speaker 1: his victory at law, Rochelle looked to expand French influence
Speaker 1: eastward over the Rhine and into Germany. Ferdinandon, now facing
Speaker 1: a resurgent Protestant threat, is forced to rely increasingly on Wallenstein,
Speaker 1: who's growing power and ambition makes him a potential threat
Speaker 1: to the emperor's own authority. Next week, we turn the
Speaker 1: page to the pivotal year of sixteen thirty, as Gustavus
Speaker 1: Adolphus and Cardinal Richelieu slam into Germany.