Thurn hoped by this deed of violence to render peace between Austria and Bohemia impossible. He little thought that he had given the signal for a war which was to desolate his country and all Germany for thirty years, and throw them back in the race of civilisation for a century. CHAPTER IV THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRTY YEARS’ WAR Character of the Bohemian Revolution--Help sent by Savoy and the Silesians--Accession of Ferdinand of Styria--Revolt in Austria--Ferdinand elected Emperor, deposed as King of Bohemia--Acceptance by Frederick, Elector Palatine, of the Crown of Bohemia--Alienation of England and the Lutheran Princes from Frederick--Bavaria, Spain, and Saxony support Ferdinand--Battle of the White Mountain--Settlement of Bohemia and Silesia--Conquest of the Palatinate--The Electorate transferred to Bavaria--The war spreads to the north--Interference of England and Denmark--Wallenstein raises an army for the Emperor--His character and views--Campaigns of 1626–1627--Defeat of Denmark--Peace of Lübeck--Edict of Restitution--New questions raised by the success of Wallenstein and the issue of the Edict. [Sidenote: =Character of the Bohemian Revolution.=] It is probable that when count Thurn and his companions threw the regents out of the window at Prague, they only intended to snap the cord which bound Bohemia and the House of Austria together, and pictured to themselves as the result of their rash act an independent Protestant Bohemia, ruled by themselves and their brother nobles under the nominal sovereignty of a puppet king of their own choosing. At first it seemed as if they were right. Germany was inclined to let king and rebellious subjects fight out the battle by themselves. John George of Saxony and Maximilian of Bavaria refused to interfere. Spain promised aid but did not send it. Matthias and Ferdinand had but fourteen thousand men under Bucquoi, a Spanish general who had served with distinction in the Netherlands, upon whom to rely. Behind that army lay an empty treasury and a discontented people. If the Bohemian revolution had had in it anything of the spirit of calm and disinterested patriotism, capable of making all sacrifices, and determined to face all consequences, which was characteristic of the Swiss and the Dutch revolutions, the knell of the House of Austria must have sounded. But it was not so. The unconquerable spirit was with Ferdinand. A mean desire to make other people bear the burdens, while they enjoyed the fruits, of successful rebellion marked the conduct of the Bohemian leaders. A body of directors, thirty in number, was formed under the guidance of Ruppa, the ablest and most honourable of the insurgents. A diet was held to carry on the affairs of the country while Thurn took command of the army. Orders were given to raise troops, but the question at once arose who was to pay for them?