Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648


Samuel Rawson Gardiner remains a respected source on the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which began as a civil conflict between Protestant princes and the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II. Lack of unity on both sides, soon drew in outside powers and the war became a struggle for European dominance. In this short book, Gardiner describes the famous battles and the daring generals: Mansfeld and Wallenstein, Tilly and Gustavus Adolphus, Bernard and Turenne. While, behind the scenes, working through secret subsidies and wily diplomacy, frail, indomitable Cardinal Richelieu gained control of crucial supply lines, crippling Austria and Spain, and setting the stage for the golden age of France. (Summary by Pamela Nagami, M.D.) (8 hr 10 min)

Chapters

Ch. 1: Causes of the Thirty Years' War, Section 1: Political Institutions of Ge… 14:07
Ch. 1, Section 2: Protestantism in Germany (1517-1570) 11:03
Ch. 1, Section 3: Reaction Against Protestantism (1570-1596) 4:57
Ch. 1, Section 4: Three Parties and Three Leaders (1596-1612) 17:43
Ch. 2: The Bohemian Revolution, Section 1: The House of Austria and its Subject… 12:09
Ch. 2, Section 2: The Revolution at Prague (March-May 1618) 5:21
Ch. 2, Section 3: The War in Bohemia (May 1618-February 1619) 7:59
Ch. 2, Section 4: Ferdinand on his Defence (March-November, 1619) 8:31
Ch. 3: Imperialist Victories in Bohemia and the Palatinate, Section 1: The Atta… 16:05
Ch. 3, Section 2: The War in the Upper Palatinate (January-October 1621) 8:12
Ch. 3, Section 3: Frederick's Allies (October 1621-May 1622) 13:21
Ch. 3, Section 4: The Fight for the Lower Palatinate (April-July 1622) 7:29
Ch. 4: Mansfeld and Christian in North Germany, Section 1: Mansfeld's March int… 8:23
Ch. 4, Section 2: Christian of Brunswick in Lower Saxony (November 1622-August … 5:05
Ch. 4, Section 3: Danger of the Lower Saxon Circle (August-December 1623) 5:11
Ch. 4, Section 4: England and France (October 1623-August 1624) 7:08
Ch. 4: Section 5: Rise of Richelieu (August 1624-September 1625) 12:14
Ch. 5: Intervention of the King of Denmark, Section 1: Christian IV and Gustavu… 13:01
Ch. 5, Section 2: English Diplomacy (August 1624-July 1625) 7:41
Ch. 5, Section 3: Wallenstein's Armament (July 1625-February 1626) 14:54
Ch. 5, Section 4: Defeat of Mansfeld and Christian IV (February-August 1626) 8:09
Ch. 6: Stralshund and Rochelle, Section 1: Fresh Successes of Wallenstein (Augu… 10:47
Ch. 6, Section 2: Resistance to Wallenstein in the Empire (October 1627-Februar… 11:25
Ch. 6, Section 3: The Siege of Stralsund (August-February 1628) 6:55
Ch. 6, Section 4: The Siege of Rochelle (1625-1628) 12:55
Ch. 7: The Edict of Restitution, Section 1: Oppression of the Protestants (Marc… 9:17
Ch. 7, Section 2: French Intervention in Italy (1628-1630) 7:47
Ch. 7, Section 3: Wallenstein Deprived of his Command (March 1629-September 163… 11:44
Ch. 7, Section 4: The Swedes Establish Themselves on the Coast of the Baltic (J… 5:44
Ch. 7, Section 5: The Fall of Magdeburg (January-May 1631) 11:14
Ch. 8: The Victories of Gustavus Adolphus, Section 1: Alliance between the Swed… 6:39
Ch. 8, Section 2: Battle of Breitenfeld (September 1631) 13:52
Ch. 8, Section 3: March of Gustavus into South Germany (October 1631-May 1632) 9:51
Ch. 8, Section 4: Wallenstein's Restoration to Command (September 1631-June 163… 11:06
Ch. 8, Section 5: Struggle between Gustavus and Wallenstein (June-October 1632) 9:18
Ch. 8, Section 6: The Battle of Lützen (October-November 1632) 9:48
Ch. 9: The Death of Wallenstein and the Treaty of Prague, Section 1: French Inf… 10:16
Ch. 9, Section 2: Wallenstein's Attempt to Dictate Peace (April-December 1633) 10:01
Ch. 9, Section 3: Resistance to Wallenstein's Plans (January-February 1634) 6:17
Ch. 9, Section 4: Assassination of Wallenstein (February 1634) 8:47
Ch. 9, Section 5: Imperialist Victories and the Treaty of Prague (February 1634… 13:51
Ch. 10: The Preponderance of France, Section 1: Open Intervention of France (Ma… 7:45
Ch. 10, Section 2: Spanish Successes (May 1635-December 1637) 6:17
Ch. 10, Section 3: The Struggle for Alsace (January 1638-July 1639) 4:14
Ch. 10, Section 4: French Successes (July 1639-December 1642) 9:03
Ch. 10, Section 5: Aims and Character of Richelieu (December 1642-May 1643) 8:37
Ch. 10, Section 6: More French Victories (May 1643-August 1645) 8:56
Ch. 11: The End of the War, Section 1: Turenne's Strategy (June 1645-October 16… 8:58
Ch. 11, Section 2: The Treaty of Westphalia (October 1648) 8:46
Ch. 11, Section 3: Condition of Germany 8:37
Ch. 11, Section 4: Continuance of the War between France and Spain (1648-1660) 12:38