Battle of Hochst and How did it influence the thirty years war.
                     BATTLE OF HOCHST AND HOW DID 
IT INFLUENCE THE THIRTY YEARS' 
WAR
INTRODUCTION
The Thirty Years' War was a conflict fought largely within the 
Holy Roman Empire from 1618 to 1648. 
Considered one of the most destructive wars in European 
history, estimates of total deaths caused by the conflict range 
from 4.5 to 8 million, while some areas of Germany experienced 
population declines of over 50%.
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Situation in Europe
• Denmark & Sweden strive after more influence in Europe
• Latent conflict between France & the house of Habsburg 
(emperor & Spain)
• The Netherlands fight for independence from Habsburg
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Situation in the Holy Roman 
Empire
• Uncertain legal situation with regards to the Augsburg 
Settlement
• Denominational & political conflictsFounding of Protestant 
Union & Catholic League (military alliances)
• Intensifying of counter-reformation
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Bohemian Rebellion
• 1612-1618: Mathias (king of Bohemia & emperor) oppresses 
Protestants
• 23 May 1618: Defenestration of Prague
• 24 Aug 1619: Bohemian assembly of the estates elects 
Frederick V of Palatinate as king
• 1618-1620: Several battles without a decision
• 08 Nov 1620: Decisive defeat of the Bohemian army in the 
Battle of the White Mountain
• 1620-1621: Execution of 27 noblemen & forced migration of 
30,000 families / Frederick V flees to the Netherlands
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
The War in Palatinate
• 23 May 1620: Spanish (imperial) forces occupy Palatinate left of 
the Rhine
• From Jun 1620: Imperial forces occupy Palatinate right of the Rhine
• 27 Apr 1622: Battle of Mingolsheim – Mansfeld defeats Tilly
• 06 May 1622: Battle of Wimpfen – Tilly defeats Georg Friedrich
• 20 Jun 1622: Battle of Höchst – Tilly defeats Christian
• 23 Feb 1623: Bavaria gains Upper Palatinate & the electoral 
dignity
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Situation at the End of the First Phase of 
the War
• Protestant Union dissolves itself
• Bohemia & the Palatinate are re-catholised with drastic means
• Bavaria gains Upper Palatinate & the electoral dignity
• Emperor & Catholics are strengthened
• Protestants are weakened
• Denmark sees an opportunity to increase her influence in 
Germany
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Second Phase: The Danish Intervention
• From 1624: France initiates alliances against the emperor
• Dec 1624: Foundation of the Hauge Alliance, consisting of 
Denmark, England, Netherlands & territories in Lower Saxony
• 1625: Danish king & his allies in Lower Saxony muster a relatively 
small army
• 1625: Danish king occupies Verden & Nienburg
• Jun – Jul 1625: Wallenstein becomes Generalissimo
• 25 Apr 1626: Battle of Dessau Bridge – Wallenstein defeats Ernst 
von Mansfeld
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Situation at the End of the Danish 
Intervention
• Denmark loses her role as an important Nordic power
• Zenith of the emperor's might
• Protestant site loses a substantial amount of territory:
• Wallenstein receives Mecklenburg
• Edict of Restitution: The estates of the church are restored 
at the expense of the Protestant rulers
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Third Phase: The Swedish Intervention
• 06 Jul 1630: Gustav II Adolf arrives in northern Germany – 
Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Brandenburg & Saxony join his cause
• 17 Sep 1631: Battle of Breitenfeld – Gustav Adolf defeats Tilly
• Sep 1631 – Apr 1632: Swedish forces invade southern Germany
• 15 Apr 1632: Battle of Rain am Lech – Gustav Adolf decisively 
defeats Tilly ( Tilly killed)
• Apr 1632: Swedish troops occupy Munich
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Situation at the End of the Swedish 
Intervention
• The war so far has exhausted the Holy Roman Empire
• Sweden is firmly established as the Nordic great power
• Protestant rulers & the emperor make peace & form an alliance 
(Treaty of Prague)
• Status quo ante bellum is restored
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org
Fourth Phase: Swedish-French Intervention 
& Peace of Westphalia
• 1635: Treaty of Wismar – Sweden & France form an alliance 
against emperor & empire
• 1635-1648: Swedish-French campaigns without decisive battles
• 1635-1648: Massive ravages (please note: ravages are 
characteristic for the entire war)
• 1643-1648: Peace negotiations in Münster & Osnabrück
• 15 May – 24 Oct 1648: Peace of Westphalia
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Source: 
en.wikipedia.org