Speaker 1: Hello, and Welcome to Western Sieve episode four hundred and
Speaker 1: forty three. A new alliance, the Peace of Prague, intended
Speaker 1: to bring stability and much needed funds, failed to deliver.
Speaker 1: The emperor. Now, Ferdinand the Third was desperate to maintain
Speaker 1: his armies, resorting to assigning entire regions to support his allies,
Speaker 1: further draining the Empire's already depleted resources to continue the
Speaker 1: Thirty Years War. This lack of funds trickled down to
Speaker 1: the soldiers, who often went unpaid for months, leading to
Speaker 1: widespread desertion and undermining the morale of the Imperial army.
Speaker 1: Adding to the Empire's woes. Now, the bubonic plague swept
Speaker 1: through its ranks, further decimating the army's strength. The shortage
Speaker 1: of funds and the impact of disease forced the Imperial
Speaker 1: forces to withdraw from several key areas, weakening the imperial
Speaker 1: hold on the Rhineland and embolding Cardinal Richelieu of France.
Speaker 1: The power vacuum also allowed opportunistic individuals like Bernard of
Speaker 1: Vemar to rise. A skilled military leader. Bernard realized the
Speaker 1: opportunity to challenge the Habsburg dominance and the reline. He
Speaker 1: wasn't alone in the fight either. He relied on the
Speaker 1: talented mercenary commanders, many of whom who had risen up
Speaker 1: over the past two decades, to such Jacob Walter and
Speaker 1: Johann von Goltz, whose expertise and ambition would help to
Speaker 1: shape the course of the end of the war. The
Speaker 1: war at this point was no longer a clash of ideology.
Speaker 1: It was no longer about politics, It was no longer
Speaker 1: about tactics. This had become nothing less than just a
Speaker 1: struggle for survival. Soldiers, often driven to desperation by lack
Speaker 1: of pay and just food, resulted to plundering simply to
Speaker 1: feed themselves. It's a grim picture of sieges at this point,
Speaker 1: where starvation and disease become as deadly as swords on
Speaker 1: both sides of the wall. For one example, the siege
Speaker 1: of Breyshach in sixteen thirty eight is particularly harrowing. The
Speaker 1: defending garrison found itself reduced to eating horses and even
Speaker 1: resorting allegedly to cannibalism in its desperation. The war's brutality
Speaker 1: at this stage now left a psychological scar on the
Speaker 1: peoples of Germany, giving rise to gruesome stories and perpetuating
Speaker 1: a climate of fear and uncertainty. The Battle then of
Speaker 1: Wittenmeier in sixteen thirty nine marked yet another decisive turning
Speaker 1: point in this war that has not lacked for them
Speaker 1: to this point. It highlighted the importance of leadership and
Speaker 1: devastating consequences also of recklessness. Gutz, the imperial commander, despite
Speaker 1: his experience, made a series of tactical blunders that led
Speaker 1: to a crushing defeat on the hands of the Protestant forces.
Speaker 1: The loss at Bittenmeier contributed to the fall of Bressok,
Speaker 1: a strategic fortress that had long been a symbol of
Speaker 1: Habsburg power and was considered to be just a given
Speaker 1: as an imperial fortress. But even the victory at taking
Speaker 1: Bressok didn't work out for the Protestants. Bernard of Weimar,
Speaker 1: despite his initial successes, met his tragic end there. While
Speaker 1: laying siege to Bressak, he succumbed to illness. His death,
Speaker 1: though didn't mark the end of the war, though it
Speaker 1: did deal another major blow to the Protestant forces. And
Speaker 1: if you're keeping track from Gustavus Adolphus all the way
Speaker 1: through this conflict, one of the reasons perhaps that this
Speaker 1: war drags on for as long as it does is
Speaker 1: that it's just impossible for either side to keep their
Speaker 1: leaders alive long enough to prosecute an end to the conflict.
Speaker 1: So instead, the Thirty Years War rages on, leaving a
Speaker 1: continued trail of destruction and what will ultimately come to
Speaker 1: shape the political landscape of Europe for generations. The profound
Speaker 1: human cost of this war at this point is significant.
Speaker 1: Soldiers and civilians suffered alike. Brutality and desperation permeate every aspect.
Speaker 1: The Thirty Years War was a stark reminder of the
Speaker 1: consequences of religious and political intolerance, leaving a legacy of
Speaker 1: destruction and yearning for peace in its wake. After sixteen
Speaker 1: thirty eight thirty nine, a new force and alliance would
Speaker 1: emerge that again would provide some hope that perhaps the
Speaker 1: end was near and that we'll be right after this.
Speaker 1: About two thirds of the way through the Thirty Years War,
Speaker 1: a new force emerged, one that would significantly alter the
Speaker 1: political and military landscape of the conflict. This new alliance
Speaker 1: was called a quote unquote third party. It was born
Speaker 1: out of a strategic vision of Duke George of Lunenburg
Speaker 1: and the ambitions of probably getting used to hearing this
Speaker 1: name Cardinal Richelieu of France. George wanted to strengthen his
Speaker 1: position and protect his forces from both Imperial and Swedish encroachment.
Speaker 1: He saw an opportunity in the then existing Franco Swedish alliance.
Speaker 1: He initiated negotiations with Amelia Elisabeth of Hesse Kassel, proposing
Speaker 1: a coalition that would create essentially a neutral block in
Speaker 1: the middle of Germany. The block, centered around vital territories
Speaker 1: like Hamburg, Cologne and Manse, would serve as a buffer
Speaker 1: against the Habsburg forces and offer a safe haven for
Speaker 1: various houses which could no longer continue to effectively participate
Speaker 1: in the conflict. The emergence of this French backed third party,
Speaker 1: and it's called a third party because it really doesn't
Speaker 1: want to choose a side, sent ripples through the Holy
Speaker 1: Roman Empire, particularly alarming Emperor Ferdinand the Third. The Emperor,
Speaker 1: always vigilant against threats to his authority, saw this new
Speaker 1: alliance as a dangerous challenge to his power. He attempted
Speaker 1: to pressure Duke George into abandoning these plans, urging him
Speaker 1: to expel any Allied troops and instead get back in
Speaker 1: line with the Imperial forces. But George persisted, and the
Speaker 1: Third Party's influence extended beyond the realm of politics, directly
Speaker 1: impacting then the course of the war. In sixteen thirty seven,
Speaker 1: the Swedish commander Johann Banaier launched a new offensive, aiming
Speaker 1: to capitalize on the instability caused within the Imperial forces
Speaker 1: by this new faction and their refusal to participate any
Speaker 1: further in the war. This campaign, marked by a series
Speaker 1: of battles and strategic maneuverings, further complicated the already tangled
Speaker 1: web of alliances and rivalries that had come to define
Speaker 1: the Thirty Years War. The creation of the Third Party
Speaker 1: added another layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict.
Speaker 1: It continued to highlight the shifting allegiances, intricate powerdyne, and
Speaker 1: constant struggle for advantage that characterized the Thirty Years War.
Speaker 1: The Third Party, though initially welcomed by many as a
Speaker 1: potential force for peace, ultimately became little more than another
Speaker 1: pawn I guess you would say in the larger game
Speaker 1: of power. Frankly, little more than a force that could
Speaker 1: be used by Cardinal Richelieu when he wanted. This period
Speaker 1: of the Thirty Years War, which was marked by increasingly
Speaker 1: shifting alliances as different sides tried to tap out, as
Speaker 1: well as military setback, and of course, the constant struggle
Speaker 1: for financial stability continued to devastate Germany. Meanwhile, the Franco
Speaker 1: Swedish alliance, though formidable, faced its own challenges, just like
Speaker 1: the Imperial Force was. Count Johann Benaer, the Swedish commander,
Speaker 1: inherited a war weary army that was plagued by mutiny
Speaker 1: in financial I know I've mentioned this a million times.
Speaker 1: Remember we're still in early modern Europe here. These states
Speaker 1: do not have the financial resources to continue this war
Speaker 1: for thirty years, though they seemed to be trying. His
Speaker 1: attempts to rebuild the army and restore discipline were hampered
Speaker 1: by the lack of funds and the constant need to
Speaker 1: secure resources through plundering, especially when you're trying to plunder
Speaker 1: a territory that's already been plundered. Bannair's situation mirrored the
Speaker 1: broader financial difficulties that plagued many participants in the war,
Speaker 1: highlighting the importance of economic resources in sustaining military campaigns.
Speaker 1: The Imperial forces, though as mentioned, facing their own setbacks,
Speaker 1: sought to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of their opponents. Ferdinand
Speaker 1: the Third found himself increasingly forced to rely on negotiation
Speaker 1: and diplomacy to maintain a semblance of unity within the Empire,
Speaker 1: a strategy that was often un mind by self serving
Speaker 1: interests of various princes and electors. The military campaigns between
Speaker 1: sixteen forty one and sixteen forty three underscore the fluidity
Speaker 1: of alliances and the constant maneuvering for advantages. Banair launched
Speaker 1: an offensive in sixteen thirty seven aimed at exploiting the
Speaker 1: instability caused by the Third Party, but this went nowhere.
Speaker 1: The Battle of Wolftenburton in sixteen forty one exemplifies the
Speaker 1: unpredictable nature of this conflict, with shifting alliances and unexpected
Speaker 1: betrayals shaping the course of the battle. The battle was
Speaker 1: a conflict between imperial forces, a coalition of course, and
Speaker 1: essentially the Swedish Army. In the end, it appeared that
Speaker 1: the Imperial forces had the upper hand, though ultimately Swedish
Speaker 1: cohesion forced the Imperial forces to retreat Despite the victory,
Speaker 1: the Swedes were unable to capitalize on anything that they
Speaker 1: had achieved, which had become sort of a characteristic of
Speaker 1: the Thirty Years War. It was easy for one side
Speaker 1: or another to win a pitched battle here or there,
Speaker 1: but almost it seems impossible for either side to ever
Speaker 1: capitalize on the opportunities that they had created, which made
Speaker 1: it again impossible to bring the overall conflict to a
Speaker 1: complete resolution. Look, the writing was on the wall. This
Speaker 1: conflict was not going to be resolved by someone achieving
Speaker 1: total victory. This was going to be a negotiated settlement.
Speaker 1: Both sides had to figure out a way to get
Speaker 1: to that settlement. Now. Between sixteen forty two and sixteen
Speaker 1: forty five, the Swedish and Imperial forces fought a series
Speaker 1: of battles that went a long way toward finally ending
Speaker 1: the war in sixteen forty eight, but that will be
Speaker 1: right after this. In sixteen forty two, the Swedish Army,
Speaker 1: now under the command of General Leonard Tortensen, achieved a
Speaker 1: major victory over the Imperial forces at the Battle of Kempen.
Speaker 1: Tortensen's victory was due in part to the Imperial commander
Speaker 1: Guimar de le Boy's tactical blunder in dividing his forces
Speaker 1: never something you want to do. Limbois, facing financial difficulties
Speaker 1: and pressure from his hungry soldiers, had sent a portion
Speaker 1: of his troops off to plunder the surrounding countryside. When
Speaker 1: the Swedes attacked, Limbois was caught unprepared and outnumbered, leading
Speaker 1: to a decisive defeat. This victory put the Swedish forces
Speaker 1: in a strong position, but as I mentioned, they were
Speaker 1: unable to fully capitalize on their success because they too
Speaker 1: were suffering from a lack of resources. The Imperial Forces,
Speaker 1: then under the command of Franz Albrecht, suffered another defeat
Speaker 1: at the hands of Tortensen in sixteen forty five at
Speaker 1: the Second Battle of Bretonfield. Despite being outnumbered, the Swedish
Speaker 1: Army was able to achieve a decisive victory, largely due
Speaker 1: to Tortensen's superior tactics and the overall quality of his troops.
Speaker 1: The Imperial Army was routed and their commander, Franz Albrecht
Speaker 1: was killed. After the Swedish victories first at the Battle
Speaker 1: of Kempen and then at the Second Battle of Brettenburg,
Speaker 1: the Imperial forces severely weakened an immoralized had been forced
Speaker 1: into retreat. Ferdinand the Third understood at this point he
Speaker 1: needed to take decisive action, an effort to try to
Speaker 1: restore his army strength and regain the initiative in the war.
Speaker 1: Ferdinand replaced his previous commander with Mathias Gallis, a seasoned
Speaker 1: and experienced general who had previously served in the Imperial
Speaker 1: Army with distinction. Gallis was given command of all available
Speaker 1: Imperial troops, the first time that really anyone had been
Speaker 1: given command of the overall military operations of the Empire.
Speaker 1: Now this included a contingent of Bavarian soldiers. He was
Speaker 1: tasked with rebuilding the army, driving the Swedes out of Germany,
Speaker 1: once and for all, and restoring imperial prestige. But Gallis
Speaker 1: faced a formidable challenge. The Swedish Army under Tortensen was
Speaker 1: one of the most formidable fighting forces in Europe. They
Speaker 1: were well equipped, well trained, and they were led by
Speaker 1: a brilliant general. Despite these challenges, Gallas remained determined to succeed.
Speaker 1: He implemented a rigorous training program for his troops, improved
Speaker 1: their logistics and supply lines, and sought to regain the
Speaker 1: support of the German princes, who had now been alienated
Speaker 1: by the previous imperial commander's constant plundering and harsh policies. However,
Speaker 1: Galus's efforts were hampered by the continued lack of financial resources.
Speaker 1: The Imperial treasury was essentially bankrupt after years of war,
Speaker 1: and the German princes were now reluctant to provide any
Speaker 1: additional funding. As a result, Gallas was forced to rely
Speaker 1: on plunder and extortion to supply his army, which further
Speaker 1: alienated the local population and weakened imperial authority. In sixteen
Speaker 1: forty three, Gallas launched a campaign against the Swedes in Silesia.
Speaker 1: He initially achieved some success, but he was soon forced
Speaker 1: to retreat after Tortensen out maneuvered him and cut off
Speaker 1: his supply lines. Galus's defeat in Silasia was a major
Speaker 1: setback for the Imperial cause. It demonstrated the Swedish army's
Speaker 1: continued superiority and further weakened imperial morale. Despite this setback,
Speaker 1: Gallas continued to fight on. He was able to lead
Speaker 1: a successful campaign against the French in Alsace, Lorraine in
Speaker 1: sixteen forty four, but all his victories were simply overshadowed
Speaker 1: by the continued Swedish advance deep into Bohemia. Gallus's inability
Speaker 1: to decisively defeat the Swedes ultimately led to his downfall.
Speaker 1: He was replaced as overall commander in sixteen forty five
Speaker 1: by Johann von Wirth, who would also face significant challenges
Speaker 1: in trying to turn the tide of the war. But
Speaker 1: while there would not be peace in Germany for yet
Speaker 1: another three years, the situation to the north in the
Speaker 1: Baltic was different. Next time, we turn our attention to
Speaker 1: the Baltic region specifically and see how the Thirty Years
Speaker 1: War has impacted the varying states between the kingdoms, particularly
Speaker 1: of Sweden and Denmark, and how those two kingdoms were
Speaker 1: able to ultimately achieve a lasting peace a