Episode 443: A New Alliance

Thirty Years War. This lack of funds trickled down to the soldiers, who often went unpaid for months, leading to widespread desertion and undermining the morale of the Imperial army. Adding to the Empire's woes. Now, the bubonic plague swept through its ranks, further decimating the army's strength. The shortage of funds and the impact of disease forced the Imperial forces to withdraw from several key areas, weakening the imperial hold on the Rhineland and embolding Cardinal Richelieu of France.

The power vacuum also allowed opportunistic individuals like Bernard of Vemar to rise. A skilled military leader. Bernard realized the opportunity to challenge the Habsburg dominance and the reline. He wasn't alone in the fight either. He relied on the talented mercenary commanders, many of whom who had risen up over the past two decades, to such Jacob Walter and Johann von Goltz, whose expertise and ambition would help to

shape the course of the end of the war. The war at this point was no longer a clash of ideology. It was no longer about politics, It was no longer about tactics. This had become nothing less than just a struggle for survival. Soldiers, often driven to desperation by lack of pay and just food, resulted to plundering simply to feed themselves. It's a grim picture of sieges at this point, where starvation and disease become as deadly as swords on both sides of the wall. For one example, the siege

of Breyshach in sixteen thirty eight is particularly harrowing. The defending garrison found itself reduced to eating horses and even resorting allegedly to cannibalism in its desperation. The war's brutality at this stage now left a psychological scar on the peoples of Germany, giving rise to gruesome stories and perpetuating a climate of fear and uncertainty. The Battle then of Wittenmeier in sixteen thirty nine marked yet another decisive turning point in this war that has not lacked for them

to this point. It highlighted the importance of leadership and devastating consequences also of recklessness. Gutz, the imperial commander, despite his experience, made a series of tactical blunders that led to a crushing defeat on the hands of the Protestant forces. The loss at Bittenmeier contributed to the fall of Bressok, a strategic fortress that had long been a symbol of Habsburg power and was considered to be just a given as an imperial fortress. But even the victory at taking

Bressok didn't work out for the Protestants. Bernard of Weimar, despite his initial successes, met his tragic end there. While laying siege to Bressak, he succumbed to illness. His death, though didn't mark the end of the war, though it

did deal another major blow to the Protestant forces. And if you're keeping track from Gustavus Adolphus all the way through this conflict, one of the reasons perhaps that this war drags on for as long as it does is that it's just impossible for either side to keep their leaders alive long enough to prosecute an end to the conflict. So instead, the Thirty Years War rages on, leaving a continued trail of destruction and what will ultimately come to

shape the political landscape of Europe for generations. The profound human cost of this war at this point is significant. Soldiers and civilians suffered alike. Brutality and desperation permeate every aspect. The Thirty Years War was a stark reminder of the consequences of religious and political intolerance, leaving a legacy of

destruction and yearning for peace in its wake. After sixteen thirty eight thirty nine, a new force and alliance would emerge that again would provide some hope that perhaps the end was near and that we'll be right after this. About two thirds of the way through the Thirty Years War, a new force emerged, one that would significantly alter the political and military landscape of the conflict. This new alliance

was called a quote unquote third party. It was born out of a strategic vision of Duke George of Lunenburg and the ambitions of probably getting used to hearing this name Cardinal Richelieu of France. George wanted to strengthen his position and protect his forces from both Imperial and Swedish encroachment. He saw an opportunity in the then existing Franco Swedish alliance.

He initiated negotiations with Amelia Elisabeth of Hesse Kassel, proposing a coalition that would create essentially a neutral block in the middle of Germany. The block, centered around vital territories like Hamburg, Cologne and Manse, would serve as a buffer against the Habsburg forces and offer a safe haven for various houses which could no longer continue to effectively participate

in the conflict. The emergence of this French backed third party, and it's called a third party because it really doesn't want to choose a side, sent ripples through the Holy Roman Empire, particularly alarming Emperor Ferdinand the Third. The Emperor, always vigilant against threats to his authority, saw this new alliance as a dangerous challenge to his power. He attempted to pressure Duke George into abandoning these plans, urging him to expel any Allied troops and instead get back in

line with the Imperial forces. But George persisted, and the Third Party's influence extended beyond the realm of politics, directly impacting then the course of the war. In sixteen thirty seven, the Swedish commander Johann Banaier launched a new offensive, aiming to capitalize on the instability caused within the Imperial forces by this new faction and their refusal to participate any

further in the war. This campaign, marked by a series of battles and strategic maneuverings, further complicated the already tangled web of alliances and rivalries that had come to define the Thirty Years War. The creation of the Third Party added another layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict. It continued to highlight the shifting allegiances, intricate powerdyne, and constant struggle for advantage that characterized the Thirty Years War.

The Third Party, though initially welcomed by many as a potential force for peace, ultimately became little more than another pawn I guess you would say in the larger game of power. Frankly, little more than a force that could be used by Cardinal Richelieu when he wanted. This period of the Thirty Years War, which was marked by increasingly shifting alliances as different sides tried to tap out, as well as military setback, and of course, the constant struggle

for financial stability continued to devastate Germany. Meanwhile, the Franco Swedish alliance, though formidable, faced its own challenges, just like the Imperial Force was. Count Johann Benaer, the Swedish commander, inherited a war weary army that was plagued by mutiny in financial I know I've mentioned this a million times. Remember we're still in early modern Europe here. These states do not have the financial resources to continue this war

for thirty years, though they seemed to be trying. His attempts to rebuild the army and restore discipline were hampered by the lack of funds and the constant need to secure resources through plundering, especially when you're trying to plunder a territory that's already been plundered. Bannair's situation mirrored the broader financial difficulties that plagued many participants in the war, highlighting the importance of economic resources in sustaining military campaigns.

The Imperial forces, though as mentioned, facing their own setbacks, sought to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of their opponents. Ferdinand the Third found himself increasingly forced to rely on negotiation and diplomacy to maintain a semblance of unity within the Empire, a strategy that was often un mind by self serving interests of various princes and electors. The military campaigns between sixteen forty one and sixteen forty three underscore the fluidity

of alliances and the constant maneuvering for advantages. Banair launched an offensive in sixteen thirty seven aimed at exploiting the instability caused by the Third Party, but this went nowhere. The Battle of Wolftenburton in sixteen forty one exemplifies the unpredictable nature of this conflict, with shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals shaping the course of the battle. The battle was a conflict between imperial forces, a coalition of course, and

essentially the Swedish Army. In the end, it appeared that the Imperial forces had the upper hand, though ultimately Swedish cohesion forced the Imperial forces to retreat Despite the victory, the Swedes were unable to capitalize on anything that they had achieved, which had become sort of a characteristic of

the Thirty Years War. It was easy for one side or another to win a pitched battle here or there, but almost it seems impossible for either side to ever capitalize on the opportunities that they had created, which made it again impossible to bring the overall conflict to a complete resolution. Look, the writing was on the wall. This conflict was not going to be resolved by someone achieving total victory. This was going to be a negotiated settlement. Both sides had to figure out a way to get

to that settlement. Now. Between sixteen forty two and sixteen forty five, the Swedish and Imperial forces fought a series of battles that went a long way toward finally ending the war in sixteen forty eight, but that will be right after this. In sixteen forty two, the Swedish Army, now under the command of General Leonard Tortensen, achieved a major victory over the Imperial forces at the Battle of Kempen.

Tortensen's victory was due in part to the Imperial commander Guimar de le Boy's tactical blunder in dividing his forces never something you want to do. Limbois, facing financial difficulties and pressure from his hungry soldiers, had sent a portion of his troops off to plunder the surrounding countryside. When the Swedes attacked, Limbois was caught unprepared and outnumbered, leading

to a decisive defeat. This victory put the Swedish forces in a strong position, but as I mentioned, they were unable to fully capitalize on their success because they too were suffering from a lack of resources. The Imperial Forces, then under the command of Franz Albrecht, suffered another defeat at the hands of Tortensen in sixteen forty five at

the Second Battle of Bretonfield. Despite being outnumbered, the Swedish Army was able to achieve a decisive victory, largely due to Tortensen's superior tactics and the overall quality of his troops. The Imperial Army was routed and their commander, Franz Albrecht was killed. After the Swedish victories first at the Battle of Kempen and then at the Second Battle of Brettenburg, the Imperial forces severely weakened an immoralized had been forced

into retreat. Ferdinand the Third understood at this point he needed to take decisive action, an effort to try to restore his army strength and regain the initiative in the war. Ferdinand replaced his previous commander with Mathias Gallis, a seasoned and experienced general who had previously served in the Imperial

Army with distinction. Gallis was given command of all available Imperial troops, the first time that really anyone had been given command of the overall military operations of the Empire. Now this included a contingent of Bavarian soldiers. He was tasked with rebuilding the army, driving the Swedes out of Germany, once and for all, and restoring imperial prestige. But Gallis faced a formidable challenge. The Swedish Army under Tortensen was

one of the most formidable fighting forces in Europe. They were well equipped, well trained, and they were led by a brilliant general. Despite these challenges, Gallas remained determined to succeed. He implemented a rigorous training program for his troops, improved their logistics and supply lines, and sought to regain the support of the German princes, who had now been alienated

by the previous imperial commander's constant plundering and harsh policies. However, Galus's efforts were hampered by the continued lack of financial resources. The Imperial treasury was essentially bankrupt after years of war, and the German princes were now reluctant to provide any additional funding. As a result, Gallas was forced to rely on plunder and extortion to supply his army, which further

alienated the local population and weakened imperial authority. In sixteen forty three, Gallas launched a campaign against the Swedes in Silesia. He initially achieved some success, but he was soon forced to retreat after Tortensen out maneuvered him and cut off his supply lines. Galus's defeat in Silasia was a major setback for the Imperial cause. It demonstrated the Swedish army's continued superiority and further weakened imperial morale. Despite this setback,

Gallas continued to fight on. He was able to lead a successful campaign against the French in Alsace, Lorraine in sixteen forty four, but all his victories were simply overshadowed by the continued Swedish advance deep into Bohemia. Gallus's inability to decisively defeat the Swedes ultimately led to his downfall. He was replaced as overall commander in sixteen forty five by Johann von Wirth, who would also face significant challenges

in trying to turn the tide of the war. But while there would not be peace in Germany for yet another three years, the situation to the north in the Baltic was different. Next time, we turn our attention to the Baltic region specifically and see how the Thirty Years War has impacted the varying states between the kingdoms, particularly of Sweden and Denmark, and how those two kingdoms were able to ultimately achieve a lasting peace a