Thirty Years' War, The

The, a religious and political war in central Europe, 1618-1648. It broke out between the Protestants and Catholics in Bohemia and soon involved all Germany. The German emperor and Spain took the part of the Catholics or southern Germany. Sweden and Denmark took the part of the northern or Protestant princes. France, a Catholic country, under the lead of Richelieu was so influenced by jealousy of the German emperor as to take the Protestant side. Tilly and Wallenstein were the most noted leaders of the Catholic forces; Gustavus Adolphus, the most noted Protestant commander. Conde and Turenne led the French forces. The war was concluded by the peace of Westphalia in 1648. The outside parties, that is to say, Sweden and France, were gainers by the war. The war was in every way disastrous to Germany. Fertile and populous districts were reduced to uninhabited wastes. The destruction of life and property was so great that Germany was set back for a century. See Wallenstein; Gustavus; Richelieu; Turenne