The War Coming to an End

The time has finally come for the European powers to cease fighting. The war initially began with an ongoing fight with militant Catholicism and militant Calvinism. The Habsburg emperors wanted to enforce their authority in the Holy Roman Emperor however their desire is being resisted by the princes. The Habsburg emperors looked to Spain for help while the princes looked to France and enemies of Spain for help. The nobles elected a man named Ferdinand as their king, but the Protestant nobles dislike him as he pursued Catholic reforms. The protestant nobles took control of Bohemia and excused Ferdinand and in his stead they elected Frederick V. Ferdinand refused to be succeeded and defeated Frederick and the Bohemian nobles. At the same time the Spanish began to attack the Dutch. King Christian IV of Denmark stepped in to fight for the Protestant cause but he was defeated by the army of Ferdinand under the command of Albrecht von Wallenstein.  In 1630 the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus entered the fray.  His army was well disciplined and well trained and because of this he was able to defeat north Germany and move into the south. Unfortunately here at the battle of Lutzen, King Gustavus was killed. His army was easily routed. Finally the French entered the fight but supported the Protestant Swedes.  The French defeated the Spanish and had many successful victories throughout southern Germany.  Finally the Peace of Westphalia ends the war and France gains parts of Western Germany, Alsace, and the cities of Metz, Toul, and Verdun.  With this peace we can once again enjoy our lives in France without fear of attack.