Thirty Years' War: Worst European Disaster Since the Black Death

The Thirty Years' War, which lasted from 1618 until 1648, was the most gruesome war started by religion in European history. Almost every European nation was involved in the conflict either directly or indirectly, the major players being Bohemia, Spain, France, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. The war, which began and ended in the Holy Roman Empire, devastated the whole of Europe, especially the massive losses in Germany. The war is considered the worst European disaster since the Black Death in the 1300s.

The original cause of the war was undoubtedly religion, primarily Catholics versus Protestants (Lutherans and Calvinists). Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II took power in 1619, but the Bohemians (part of the empire), who were unhappy with a Catholic leader, declared Calvinist Frederick V their ruler (Perry 44). Ferdinand, who was opposed to the Bohemian's religious beliefs and defiance of his empire, sent troops to take out the Bohemians, who were quickly decimated by Ferdinand's army.

Religious disagreement was indeed the cause of the Thirty Years' War, but soon another driving factor-power-prolonged the war and made it the great tragedy that would eventually become (Perry 22). The war between Protestants and Catholics sparked the war in the Holy Roman Empire, but several nations of Europe quickly saw the conflict as a way to gain land and influence, and sent their troops into battle (Spielvogel 78).

The nations that first looked for territorial gain were Spain and Bavaria. Both nations sent troops to assist Ferdinand in his fight against the Protestants. Then, in 1625, Denmark decided to enter the war on the side of the Protestants, a decision made in order for Denmark to extend their influence over the coastal towns of the North Sea (Perry 45). The Dutch were encouraged by the English and the French. And, the fact that a Catholic nation such as France would support a Protestant nation against Catholics is proof that the Thirty Years' War was not based solely on religion.