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
sat upon his brow; and his magnificent presents alone retained the
trembling crowd of his dependents.
In this stately obscurity did Wallenstein silently, but not inactively,
await the hour of revenge. The victorious career of Gustavus Adolphus
soon gave him a presentiment of its approach. Not one of his lofty
schemes had been abandoned; and the Emperor's ingratitude had loosened
the curb of his ambition. The dazzling splendour of his private life
bespoke high soaring projects; and, lavish as a king, he seemed already
to reckon among his certain possessions those which he contemplated with
hope.
After Wallenstein's dismissal, and the invasion of Gustavus Adolphus, a
new generalissimo was to be appointed; and it now appeared advisable to
unite both the imperial army and that of the League under one general.
Maximilian of Bavaria sought this appointment, which would have enabled
him to dictate to the Emperor, who, from a conviction of this, wished to
procure the command for his eldest son, the King of Hungary. At last, in
order to avoid offence to either of the competitors, the appointment was
given to Tilly, who now exchanged the Bavarian for the Austrian service.
The imperial army in Germany, after the retirement of Wallenstein,
amounted to about 40,000 men; that of the League to nearly the same
number, both commanded by excellent officers, trained by the experience
of several campaigns, and proud of a long series of victories. With such
a force, little apprehension was felt at the invasion of the King of
Sweden, and the less so as it commanded both Pomerania and Mecklenburg,
the only countries through which he could enter Germany.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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