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PODs of the Thirty Years War - Part IX

Another excellent article @Alex Richards. The problem with it from my perspective is it's so conclusive it doesn't leave much room for commentary.
 
The biggest problem with making it stick, I suppose, is that Ferdinand II basically said to any Protestant that there would be no incentive for submitting or coming to a negotiated settlement. It was to be his way all the way with a massive loss of power, prestige and of course, of their faith, which at least some of the Adels were serious about. So it turned what was in essence a conflict on the verge of ending into a war to the knife where the local Protestant powers would turn to any foreign protection because they felt there was no coming back from such a peace. In fact, it feels very much like a peace the Ancient Romans would seek while their neighbours, Greek, Macedonian or Punic wondered what the hell was wrong with these people that they would not negotiate after a few battles leaving one side a bit weaker and the other a bit stronger. Probably one of the biggest obstacles here is that Tilly and Wallenstein had routed their enemies so decisively so that the natural arse in Ferdinand II felt he could impose whatever he wanted.

It was already turning into a war that would last long because of the Edict, and then Magdeburg happened.
 
The biggest problem with making it stick, I suppose, is that Ferdinand II basically said to any Protestant that there would be no incentive for submitting or coming to a negotiated settlement. It was to be his way all the way with a massive loss of power, prestige and of course, of their faith, which at least some of the Adels were serious about. So it turned what was in essence a conflict on the verge of ending into a war to the knife where the local Protestant powers would turn to any foreign protection because they felt there was no coming back from such a peace. In fact, it feels very much like a peace the Ancient Romans would seek while their neighbours, Greek, Macedonian or Punic wondered what the hell was wrong with these people that they would not negotiate after a few battles leaving one side a bit weaker and the other a bit stronger. Probably one of the biggest obstacles here is that Tilly and Wallenstein had routed their enemies so decisively so that the natural arse in Ferdinand II felt he could impose whatever he wanted.

It was already turning into a war that would last long because of the Edict, and then Magdeburg happened.

Oh indeed. The most likely situation is that France and/or Sweden intervene directly within 5 years and it all falls down around him.

To be honest, it's very similar to the utter pig-headedness of Frederick V. It's just that Ferdinand happened to have the generals and military strength to make it seem he could back up his ambitions of absolute power.
 
Oh indeed. The most likely situation is that France and/or Sweden intervene directly within 5 years and it all falls down around him.

To be honest, it's very similar to the utter pig-headedness of Frederick V. It's just that Ferdinand happened to have the generals and military strength to make it seem he could back up his ambitions of absolute power.

There's this passage in 1632 or one of the following books where Flint calls Gustavus Adolfus the only king fit to seat his throne in Europe at the time and, well, there's not much to disagree with there. There was a general catastrophic failure of leadership at that time.
 
There's this passage in 1632 or one of the following books where Flint calls Gustavus Adolfus the only king fit to seat his throne in Europe at the time and, well, there's not much to disagree with there. There was a general catastrophic failure of leadership at that time.

Does Russia count as European at this point? Because Michael I was pretty decent.
 
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