Jonathan Agbeyegbe
Susan May
German 333
Thesis: Albert Von Wallenstein’s Exploits and Importance to the 30 Years War
Albrecht von Wallenstein was a great commander as well as a very complicated and ambitious human being. Albrecht von Wallenstein was very important to the 30 year war and was actually one of the reasons the war lasted so long. Albrecht von Wallenstein was the champion of many battle and skirmishes during the 30 year war. He brought great valor and prestige to his master the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Ferdinand II, along with a large amount of resentment and contempt. Von Wallenstein would then go on to betray Ferdinand by means of treason. His treasonous act spanned from simple insubordination, to forging his own alliances, …show more content…
By the actions of Albrecht von Wallenstein alone had this powerful alliance between Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Stralsund been forged. Furthermore, Albrecht von Wallenstein in a roundabout way was the architect of Sweden’s easy passage way into Germany. This gave Sweden an enormous boost in moral and greatly extended the 30 year war by allowing Sweden onto German territory. After his retreat Albrecht von Wallenstein returned to business as usual, and the princes of the land would continue to be oppressed while having their lands raided and their women raped. Albrecht von Wallenstein purposely placed a wider divide between the Emperor Ferdinand II, the princes and all other such nobles and clergy in the Empire. His thought process was that the Emperor Ferdinand II would alone wield absolute power and he would move about by means of the Emperor’s name / mantle. Who could challenge his lawless military if only the Emperor was his superior? After the Emperor sent his troops to Mantua, the plight that had so harshly befell on Germany was now a curse moving slowly over Italy. Some say even in the Vatican City prayers were being sent up asking for Protestant armies to arrive. Sept 1630 von Wallenstein was removed from command by Ferdinand II under great influence from the Jesuit Order. The armies of Austria where turnover by Albrecht von Wallenstein to the newly elected …show more content…
After Gustavus Adolphus’s victory at the battle of Breitenfeld, Albrecht von Wallenstein pressed him even harder for this mutually beneficial alliance. Apparently he was a bit too aggressive as Gustavus decline the offer stating his numbers were currently too low to forsake even a few troops. A short time later, Gustavus realized this alliance would have put an immediate stop to the war and sought a reengagement to the alliance. Unfortunately, Albrecht von Wallenstein’s pride had already been wounded causing him to immediately refuse the outdated offer. Albrecht von Wallenstein now looked to the Elector of Saxony for a friend and ally. Von Wallenstein played upon the resentment he knew the Elector to have for Gustavus power and prestige as the King of Sweden and promised to low both he and the Emperor’s stations. Albrecht von Wallenstein knew that no matter what course of action he wanted to take, he would first need to amass a brave and loyal army. There was no secret or discreet way to go about raising an army without drawing the attention of Ferdinand II and every prince and noble in the empire. Albrecht von Wallenstein knew his on chance was to regain his status with the Emperor and slow plot his revenge on both he and Gustavus for refusing his
Susan May
German 333
Thesis: Albert Von Wallenstein’s Exploits and Importance to the 30 Years War
Albrecht von Wallenstein was a great commander as well as a very complicated and ambitious human being. Albrecht von Wallenstein was very important to the 30 year war and was actually one of the reasons the war lasted so long. Albrecht von Wallenstein was the champion of many battle and skirmishes during the 30 year war. He brought great valor and prestige to his master the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Ferdinand II, along with a large amount of resentment and contempt. Von Wallenstein would then go on to betray Ferdinand by means of treason. His treasonous act spanned from simple insubordination, to forging his own alliances, …show more content…
By the actions of Albrecht von Wallenstein alone had this powerful alliance between Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Stralsund been forged. Furthermore, Albrecht von Wallenstein in a roundabout way was the architect of Sweden’s easy passage way into Germany. This gave Sweden an enormous boost in moral and greatly extended the 30 year war by allowing Sweden onto German territory. After his retreat Albrecht von Wallenstein returned to business as usual, and the princes of the land would continue to be oppressed while having their lands raided and their women raped. Albrecht von Wallenstein purposely placed a wider divide between the Emperor Ferdinand II, the princes and all other such nobles and clergy in the Empire. His thought process was that the Emperor Ferdinand II would alone wield absolute power and he would move about by means of the Emperor’s name / mantle. Who could challenge his lawless military if only the Emperor was his superior? After the Emperor sent his troops to Mantua, the plight that had so harshly befell on Germany was now a curse moving slowly over Italy. Some say even in the Vatican City prayers were being sent up asking for Protestant armies to arrive. Sept 1630 von Wallenstein was removed from command by Ferdinand II under great influence from the Jesuit Order. The armies of Austria where turnover by Albrecht von Wallenstein to the newly elected …show more content…
After Gustavus Adolphus’s victory at the battle of Breitenfeld, Albrecht von Wallenstein pressed him even harder for this mutually beneficial alliance. Apparently he was a bit too aggressive as Gustavus decline the offer stating his numbers were currently too low to forsake even a few troops. A short time later, Gustavus realized this alliance would have put an immediate stop to the war and sought a reengagement to the alliance. Unfortunately, Albrecht von Wallenstein’s pride had already been wounded causing him to immediately refuse the outdated offer. Albrecht von Wallenstein now looked to the Elector of Saxony for a friend and ally. Von Wallenstein played upon the resentment he knew the Elector to have for Gustavus power and prestige as the King of Sweden and promised to low both he and the Emperor’s stations. Albrecht von Wallenstein knew that no matter what course of action he wanted to take, he would first need to amass a brave and loyal army. There was no secret or discreet way to go about raising an army without drawing the attention of Ferdinand II and every prince and noble in the empire. Albrecht von Wallenstein knew his on chance was to regain his status with the Emperor and slow plot his revenge on both he and Gustavus for refusing his