Why was the Thirty Years War fought?

Question

To what extent did politics determine the outcome of the war? Could thins have been resolved without this war?

Answer 1

The Thirty Years' War was fought between 1618 and 1648, principally on the territory of today's Germany, and involved most of the major European continental powers. Although it was from the outset a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics, the rivalry between the Habsburg dynasty and other powers was also a central motive, as shown by the fact that Catholic France even supported the Protestant side, increasing France-Habsburg rivalry.

The impact of the Thirty Years' War and related episodes of famine and disease was devastating. The war may have lasted for 30 years, but the conflicts that triggered it continued unresolved for a much longer time. The war ended with the Treaty of Westphalia.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why was the Thirty Years War fought?
To what extent did politics determine the outcome of the war? Could thins have been resolved without this war?

Answer 3

A series of wars in central Europe beginning in 1618 that stemmed from conflict between Protestants and Catholics and political struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and other powers. It ended with the Peace of Westphalia (1648).

Answer 4

The war actually started over the question of who was to succeed to the throne of Bohemia. While the Catholics supported Ferdinand of Styria to the throne, the Protestants wanted the Protestant Frederick V, Elector of Palatine to become king.

What started out as a question of who became king, began to escalate into a conflict between the great Catholic and Protestant Powers. When Ferdinand was rejected by Bohemia, Ferdiand asked the King of Spain, Philip II for help. When Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor, this tipped the balance of power in favour of the Catholics.

However, for the Protestant powers - concerned about the power of the Habsburgs in Europe (The Habsburg royal families in Spain and in Austria), Protestant powers as Sweden and Denmark (who were also aided by France and England) and Northern German states joined the fight to stop Catholicism dominating Europe.