The Year of Our Lord, Sixteen Hundred Eighteen
The outbreak of war between the Hapsburgs and the Count Palatine cast a dread shadow across the Empire. It was not just the collapse of the Peace of Augsburg, but also the collapse of the Empire. Histories of the War imply that the Empire stood divided between Protestant and Romanist. This was not the case. Most German Romanists saw the Emperor trampling upon the rights of princes, especially after Köln and Prague. They were just as upset over the abuses of Imperial authority as the Protestants. In case the reader disremembers the Hapsburg provocations, they will be briefly recounted here.
Through the early 1580s, the Archbishop of Köln began a process of secularizing his land, in an attempt to change his status to that of a secular prince. Though violating the Augsburg Settlement, such was the political and religious balance of the Empire that both Romanist and Protestant were favorable to some sort of negotiated settlement. The Hapsburgs sent Spanish troops to arrest the Archbishop, and appoint a new, loyal one. This provoked resentment from both the Evangelical Union and Catholic League, though it was entirely legal under Imperial law.
The second provocation, Prague, ignited the War, and I need not discuss it in detail, as every account of it gives a similar, accurate description. Prague represented the entire situation within the Empire—Hapsburg authority grinding down upon the princes of the realm.
From June through August, the outcome seemed quite favorable to Friedrich. Though Ferdinand had recaptured Bohemia from the Estates, Hapsburg possessions around Breisgau fell under siege from the Palatinate. Even Bavaria fell under attack from the Union. The Duke preached his willingness to mediate the conflict between Emperor and Elector, that the Empire might return to peace. His proposals were rebuffed by both sides, but his efforts were not completely in vain. The Archbishop of Mainz recognized Duke Johann’s efforts to maintain the peace within the Empire. In a poll of the six legal electors, Johann led all other candidates by a vote, that being the Archbishop’s.
Such diplomatic progress elevated Saxony in the eyes of Europe, with France even sending an emissary to broach the subject of a marriage between Johann’s son and a countess from Dijon. Johann was favorable to the offer, as he realized that it was unlikely that the Protestants could defend their liberties alone. Johann, building off his newfound success, formed close family ties with Denmark, Sweden, Mecklenburg, and the Palatinate.
By the end of August, however, the tide began to turn. Bavaria, with the help of some fifteen thousand men under von Wallenstein, threw back the combined forces of Brunswick and the Palatinate from Nürnberg, inflicting terrible losses on Friedrich’s forces. Breisgau remained under siege, though the Protestant cause seemed terribly imperiled as Tilly began his siege of Hannover with two thousand men by mid-September.
By late October, Friedrich sent an emissary requesting an alliance with Johann and Saxony. While in July, Johann might have agreed, by October, it was a different matter. Friedrich’s star was fast falling towards the end of 1618. In addition, Böhme had begun influencing the Duke to despise Romanist and Calvinist alike.
On 24 November, the unimaginable occurred. I, much like my fellow countrymen, thought war with Austria was coming, despite my liege’s efforts at neutrality. However, the war came from a different angle. The old Duke of Mecklenburg died in his sleep, God rest his soul. He had no heirs, but his last words were that Johann ought to inherit Mecklenburg. The Duke of Prussia, however, became enraged, feeling he should inherit instead. He declared that the Duke was mad, and could not cede his land to Saxony. And so, what would become known as the War of Mecklenburgian Succession burst forth.
It is said that when Ferdinand von Hapsburg heard of this, he exploded in laughter, saying: “Surely the heretics are doomed.” Friedrich von Wittelsbach became instantly depressed upon hearing this news, and I believe it is the depression which lead to his death in battle four months later. The Succession War was thrust upon Saxony, but it was not merely Saxony against Prussia. Johann’s allies stood with him. Mainz, Switzerland, and Mecklenburg sent notices to Dresden that they would march with Duke Johann. Lüneburg, Oldenburg, Pommerania, and Prussia all sent declarations of war.
The Duke called me in for a private interview on the evening of 19 December. Here is my account of it:
Duke Johann: “Heinrich, I thank you for coming on such short notice.”
Author: “It is my pleasure to serve, my Lord.”
Duke Johann: “Heinrich, I would like some advice.”
Author: “Does it pertain to the war, my Duke?”
Duke Johann: “It does indeed.”
Author: “My Duke is aware I am a painter, and am not trained in the Art of War?”
Duke Johann: “I want your advice as a Christian, a man, and one who knows each of the Dukes standing against me.”
Author: “I will try my best, my Lord.”
Duke Johann: “During this war, I will face the prospect of tearing provinces off my enemies demesnes, and even complete annexation. Is it moral? Is it right? Is it beneficial to me?”
Author: “Those are difficult questions, my Lord. Far more difficult than they appear. In terms of morality, such actions are wrong. They are fellow believers, my Lord, and are merely honoring their word to the Duke of Prussia. Annexation might be beneficial, but it also might not. My Lord, you have built a sterling reputation in the eyes of your peers on honest, benevolent, and just dealings with others. This would destroy all that effort you put in. Also, it is highly unlikely that the King of Poland will be willing to allow our troops to march through his lands on our way to Königsberg. Thus, we must occupy Prussia’s allies to force him to accept Mecklenburg’s will.”
Duke Johann: “You have a very good point, Heinrich. I will think on it.”
Author: “It is my pleasure, my Lord Duke.”
Unfortunately, the foreign minister of the Duke of Saxony was out of the country, visiting Copenhagen to discuss trading rights with the King of Denmark. However, Brandenburg needed to consent to military access before the war could be prosecuted. Thus, Saxony’s armies merely rested and strengthened during the winter of 1618-19. However, Pommerania moved troops into Mecklenburg proper during December, and commenced a siege three days before Christmas. The holy day weighed upon me heavily, as I thought of those brave men defending walls along the Baltic Sea for a Duke they had never seen, and for armies which had not begun marching. Surely this was only the beginning.
