The History of the Thirty Years' WarSchiller, Friedrich
History
The History of the Thirty Years' War
Schiller, Friedrich
Europe -- History -- 1517-1648; Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
In a Diet held at Ratisbon, at which Ferdinand was present in person
(in 1630), the necessity of taking some measures for the immediate
restoration of a general peace to Germany, and for the removal of all
grievances, was debated. The complaints of the Roman Catholics were
scarcely less numerous than those of the Protestants, although Ferdinand
had flattered himself that by the Edict of Restitution he had secured
the members of the League, and its leader by the gift of the electoral
dignity, and the cession of great part of the Palatinate. But the good
understanding between the Emperor and the princes of the League had
rapidly declined since the employment of Wallenstein. Accustomed to give
law to Germany, and even to sway the Emperor's own destiny, the haughty
Elector of Bavaria now at once saw himself supplanted by the imperial
general, and with that of the League, his own importance completely
undermined. Another had now stepped in to reap the fruits of his
victories, and to bury his past services in oblivion. Wallenstein's
imperious character, whose dearest triumph was in degrading the
authority of the princes, and giving an odious latitude to that of the
Emperor, tended not a little to augment the irritation of the Elector.
Discontented with the Emperor, and distrustful of his intentions, he
had entered into an alliance with France, which the other members of
the League were suspected of favouring. A fear of the Emperor's plans
of aggrandizement, and discontent with existing evils, had extinguished
among them all feelings of gratitude. Wallenstein's exactions had become
altogether intolerable. Brandenburg estimated its losses at twenty,
Pomerania at ten, Hesse Cassel at seven millions of dollars, and the
rest in proportion. The cry for redress was loud, urgent, and universal;
all prejudices were hushed; Roman Catholics and Protestants were united
on this point. The terrified Emperor was assailed on all sides by
petitions against Wallenstein, and his ear filled with the most fearful
descriptions of his outrages. Ferdinand was not naturally cruel. If not
totally innocent of the atrocities which were practised in Germany under
the shelter of his name, he was ignorant of their extent; and he was not
long in yielding to the representation of the princes, and reduced his
standing army by eighteen thousand cavalry. While this reduction took
place, the Swedes were actively preparing an expedition into Germany,
and the greater part of the disbanded Imperialists enlisted under their
banners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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