The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-05-24
THp THIRTY YEARS WAR.

peris. power certainly had attained its
height. The Germanic empire, Austria,
Spain, Naples, Sicily, Burgundy, and i'm
mems possessions in the new world. had
all become united under the house of
Hspsburg Bohemia and Hungary were
almost added 10 the last Nothing pre-
vented yet further accession 20 this vast
accumulation OF power and territory ex-
cept The powerful oppo. lion OF Francis l.,
and the Gomest. resistance among the
states. excited by Luther and the Refor-
nation
Ia 1870, the Protestant party, now for
midable in power and number, had deliy-
cred 70 the emperor in tie diet NJ Augs-
burg the celebrated Confess on OF Faith
which takes = name from that city. The
princes OF the reformed PARTY, by solemn
league az Smalka,3e, gained sufficient po-
litical importance 70 ensure for some time
toleration in their respective dom Unions.
AT the death OF Luther and that of Fran
els l., the emperor entered into solemn
league with the Pope Paul Ill, for the
extirpation OF heresy; and Immediately
took up arms against the reformed states
Of Germany. This war, conducted on the
part Of the states by the elector of Saxony,
the landgrave of Hesse Cassel, and other
eminent Protestants, opened very unfavor-
ably for the reformers Their forces were
defeated, the elector was captured and
threatened with instant execution, and
the fiery landgraye was compelled 20 de-
mand pardon Of the emperor on his knees
Nevertheless the resistance Of the com.
bined districts was so stubborn and pro.
longed, that Charles, in 1jJj was com.
PEELED TO liberate the Imprisoned princes,
and 10 conclude formal treaty Of peace,
ensuring toleration 10 the reformed reii-
gion.
In the same year, wearied out with con-
tests and the cares of empire he made that
memorable resignation of his dominions
which has furnished such fruitful theme
for moralists and philosophers In the
reign of his brother, Ferdinand l., who
succeeded him in the empire, general
assembly OF the Protestants was held at
Naumburg, and all the changes which had
been made in the Confession of Augs-
burg" in order 10 approximate it 10 the
3ystem of Calvin, were corrected.
This emperor, after prudent and Judi
cious reign, expired in 1854 His son,
daximilian, evnced equal judgment and
moderation. Toleration was maintained
and in 1865 the emperor accorded 20 the
Austrian Protestsnts the full exercise Of
their religion. AT his death, in 1910 the
succession devolved upon his son Rudolf
H., who is described as having been "a
great distiller, good astronomer, very
tolerable esquire, but very bad emperor. -
His reign was troubled by fierce con-
tests between the rival Protestant sects
of Augburg and Geneva, and by the ambi-
tion of his brother Matthias, who COM
PEELED him TO abdicate the crowns of Bohe-
mia and Hungary He died in 1912, and
Matthias, who succeeded him IN 1919, Fer.
dinand H., grandson Of Ferdinand l., who
Ton the refusal Of the duke of Bavaria)
was next selected 10 FL the throne had
been educated in Spain, and was embued
with sentiments of the most absolute des-
potism and the most intolerant bigotry'
That great contest between the Catholics
and Protestants, called from its duration
the Thirty Years War, broke out immo-
diately on his accession
In this long and disastrous contest, the
German, Danish, Swedish, and French ma
tions were successfully involved. Bohe-
mia, which first set the EXAMPLE of re-
sistance 10 the imperial authority, was
quickly subdued and Christian Of Bruins.
wick and Count Mansfield, the Protestant
leaders in the north of Germany, were
completely defeated by the celebrated
Tily. The successes Of the latter were
disgraced by the most atrocous outrages
and oppression in the unfortunate states
which had resisted. Christian ", king of
Denmark, who next was placed at the
head of the confederacy though distin.
guished by many characteristics of the
ancient northern heroes, was unable 70
Withstand the greatly superior forces of
the empire. Being defeated by lilly, in
1926, at the battle of Lutter, he was COM
PEELED TO make peace, with loss Of a por-
ton of his dominions Germany was again
ravaged by the cruel and victorious i'm
perislists.
The cause OF the Protestants appeared
desperate, when, in 1880, the famous Gus
tavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. landed
at Usedom, and by his skill and the valor
OF his forces, completely turned the tide
OF warfare. Aided by several powerful
German princes, and encouraged by for
eign alliances, he commenced a series of
brilliant and successful campaigns. At
Leipsic, with forty thousand men. he de
feated an equal number under Tilly, with
aloss OF twelve thousand in killed wound
ed, and prisoners. He was soon master of
the whole country, from the Elbe 10 the
Rhine, and erected a pyramid on the
banks OF the latter, that posterity might
know how far his victorious arms had been
carried
The imperial general soon sustained an.
other overwhelming defeat, aud lost his
own life in the action Wallenstein. duke
of Fredland, who WAS now in command
of the Austrian forces, met with better
atccoes and ,r,eroo1 ~ ;,, r,,,,1rs,,-r N g.