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The History of the Thirty Years' War
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159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1790
163 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Friedrich Schiller
5,411 books860 followersPeople best know long didactic poems and historical plays, such as
Don Carlos
(1787) and
William Tell
(1804), of leading romanticist German poet, dramatist, and historian Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller.
This philosopher and dramatist struck up a productive if complicated friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe during the last eighteen years of his life and encouraged Goethe to finish works that he left merely as sketches; they greatly discussed issues concerning aesthetics and thus gave way to a period, now referred to as classicism of Weimar. They also worked together on Die Xenien ( The Xenies ), a collection of short but harsh satires that verbally attacked perceived enemies of their aesthetic agenda.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedri...
This philosopher and dramatist struck up a productive if complicated friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe during the last eighteen years of his life and encouraged Goethe to finish works that he left merely as sketches; they greatly discussed issues concerning aesthetics and thus gave way to a period, now referred to as classicism of Weimar. They also worked together on Die Xenien ( The Xenies ), a collection of short but harsh satires that verbally attacked perceived enemies of their aesthetic agenda.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedri...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 2, 2025
I do not think this book is on anyone's "must read" list. Written in the 1790's by the German Poet/Playwright Schiller (the guy who wrote the poem Ode To Joy...which ended up as a Choral in later productions of Beethoven's 9th Symphony), it is an extremely well written, well researched history. Schiller explains all the moving parts. What were the motivations, the personal agendas. Its wonderfully done. I highly recommend it. Obviously I read the English translation, but it was very well done.
People today do not fully appreciate the importance of the Thirty-Years War on Western Civilization. Occurring in the mid-1600's in Europe is was the final convulsive conclusion of the Reformation which had begun in the 1500's. The war was brutal, and laid waste to large portions of central Europe. Entire towns were burned to the ground, and the citizens murdered without much thought.
Prior to the Reformation life in Europe was dominated by the Catholic Church. So much so, that politics, governance and the church were really one in the same for most people. Starting in the 1500's the monolithic Catholic control of Europe started to erode. People like Martin Luther, King Henry VIII, John Calvin, etc. had the temerity to question the power of the church.
This lead to upheavals all over Europe known as the Reformation. New Churches, new interpretations of the Bible, and most importantly a splitting of Church and State.
In many ways, the Thirty-Years war was the beginning of the Enlightenment. I know people usually interpret the Enlightenment as the pursuit of science, but it was also a re-examining of the role of the individual in society. One of the biggest issues causing the war was the rights of people, towns, and states to practice the religion of their choice. It forced a realization that the Church and Government had to be separated. You could not have one religion for a state and hope to have any lasting peace. People wanted secular governance and the rights for the individual. If this sounds like what the Constitution of the United States speaks about, you'd be right. Much of the ideas of the founding fathers of the United States come directly from the driving forces of the Thirty Years War. They did not invent these ideas in a vacuum. They'd been killing each other in Europe a hundred years before for the same reasons.
The war took place mainly in what is today Modern Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. If you look at the key players (Germany in the form of multiple independent states, Austria, Hungary, France, England (barely), Italy) it feels like a warm-up for the World Wars of the 20th century. Which is not a bad assumption since the results of the war set the stage for the Napoleonic Wars and First World War. Mainly the same actors, dealing with the results of the previous war.
The Thirty Years was was the beginning of the end of imperialism in Europe. The First World War was the end of the end of imperialism in Europe. It took almost 300 years to sort it all out, but ultimately it lead to the modern Europe. Yes, obviously, the Second World War was caused largely by the outcome of the First World War, because Britain and France hadn't got the memo that imperialism was dead. So, they tried to carve up Europe and the Near East between themselves, and stick Germany with the bill.
All in all, a good read if you want to understand this important point in Western History. Keep in mind it was written over 200 years ago, and there are biases, and probably many things that today we would interpret differently. Still, it is a fair account. It is written about 150 years after the end of the war, so there was time for reflection and for documents to surface.
The ending is rather abrupt. The author purposely does not discuss the details of the Peace of Westphalia which ended the war. He leaves that for someone else. Which makes we wonder, was he sick of writing about it, or did he not want to talk about it. I don't know. A curious way to end a book. But, I guess he only wanted to discuss the war and its causes.
People today do not fully appreciate the importance of the Thirty-Years War on Western Civilization. Occurring in the mid-1600's in Europe is was the final convulsive conclusion of the Reformation which had begun in the 1500's. The war was brutal, and laid waste to large portions of central Europe. Entire towns were burned to the ground, and the citizens murdered without much thought.
Prior to the Reformation life in Europe was dominated by the Catholic Church. So much so, that politics, governance and the church were really one in the same for most people. Starting in the 1500's the monolithic Catholic control of Europe started to erode. People like Martin Luther, King Henry VIII, John Calvin, etc. had the temerity to question the power of the church.
This lead to upheavals all over Europe known as the Reformation. New Churches, new interpretations of the Bible, and most importantly a splitting of Church and State.
In many ways, the Thirty-Years war was the beginning of the Enlightenment. I know people usually interpret the Enlightenment as the pursuit of science, but it was also a re-examining of the role of the individual in society. One of the biggest issues causing the war was the rights of people, towns, and states to practice the religion of their choice. It forced a realization that the Church and Government had to be separated. You could not have one religion for a state and hope to have any lasting peace. People wanted secular governance and the rights for the individual. If this sounds like what the Constitution of the United States speaks about, you'd be right. Much of the ideas of the founding fathers of the United States come directly from the driving forces of the Thirty Years War. They did not invent these ideas in a vacuum. They'd been killing each other in Europe a hundred years before for the same reasons.
The war took place mainly in what is today Modern Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. If you look at the key players (Germany in the form of multiple independent states, Austria, Hungary, France, England (barely), Italy) it feels like a warm-up for the World Wars of the 20th century. Which is not a bad assumption since the results of the war set the stage for the Napoleonic Wars and First World War. Mainly the same actors, dealing with the results of the previous war.
The Thirty Years was was the beginning of the end of imperialism in Europe. The First World War was the end of the end of imperialism in Europe. It took almost 300 years to sort it all out, but ultimately it lead to the modern Europe. Yes, obviously, the Second World War was caused largely by the outcome of the First World War, because Britain and France hadn't got the memo that imperialism was dead. So, they tried to carve up Europe and the Near East between themselves, and stick Germany with the bill.
All in all, a good read if you want to understand this important point in Western History. Keep in mind it was written over 200 years ago, and there are biases, and probably many things that today we would interpret differently. Still, it is a fair account. It is written about 150 years after the end of the war, so there was time for reflection and for documents to surface.
The ending is rather abrupt. The author purposely does not discuss the details of the Peace of Westphalia which ended the war. He leaves that for someone else. Which makes we wonder, was he sick of writing about it, or did he not want to talk about it. I don't know. A curious way to end a book. But, I guess he only wanted to discuss the war and its causes.
February 15, 2015
This was an interesting read. The only Enlightenment history I had tried previously was Gibbon. There is a reason this work of Schiller's is not remembered as well. Perhaps if Gibbon had told the story of the English Civil War it would have come across as oddly as this one does. The history details the brutal fight between the Holy Roman Emperor, his Protestant subjects, and anybody else in Europe who wanted to jump in. Over the 30 years of fighting somewhere between 20-30% of Germans are estimated to have died. There is good writing here, that manages to shine through even the Victorian-era translation into English. The important figures are described well, the horror and intractability of the war itself is made clear, and the opposing sides are made as clear as they possibly can be. The main thing that struck me about this book though, was the gulf between our sensibilities and those of Schiller.
The first issue is Schiller's bias towards the Protestants. Though it is admirably even-handed at times, the language used itself makes it clear where his sympathies lie. This may not just be because Schiller's people were protestant. Many Enlightenment thinkers saw the Papacy as superstitious, decrepit and just plain evil. This comes across in the narrative. The excesses of the Catholic armies are described in loving detail, and individual martyrs get their stories told. Similar outrages by Protestant armies are glossed over, and explained as necessary according to the customs of the time.
The way that the story itself is approached is also interesting. Schiller really does believe in the glory of battle. The almost sexual way he rhapsodizes on the topic of fallen generals is weird to read. It's even weirder when he's spent a couple hundred pages documenting how awful they and the conflict they encouraged were. It made me realize that in at least one respect, we should be grateful for the 20th century world wars. They helped us to grow up to the extent that we no longer glorify butchers.
The first issue is Schiller's bias towards the Protestants. Though it is admirably even-handed at times, the language used itself makes it clear where his sympathies lie. This may not just be because Schiller's people were protestant. Many Enlightenment thinkers saw the Papacy as superstitious, decrepit and just plain evil. This comes across in the narrative. The excesses of the Catholic armies are described in loving detail, and individual martyrs get their stories told. Similar outrages by Protestant armies are glossed over, and explained as necessary according to the customs of the time.
The way that the story itself is approached is also interesting. Schiller really does believe in the glory of battle. The almost sexual way he rhapsodizes on the topic of fallen generals is weird to read. It's even weirder when he's spent a couple hundred pages documenting how awful they and the conflict they encouraged were. It made me realize that in at least one respect, we should be grateful for the 20th century world wars. They helped us to grow up to the extent that we no longer glorify butchers.
July 17, 2014
Begins with a fair bit of rambling, but once the historical thread begins in earnest, this work becomes fantastic. It is a fine example of Romantic historical writing. Wallenstein! Ferdinand! Gustavus! Be forewarned: if you require precise dating and strict chronological order in your historical texts, ye may well be disappointed.
May 2, 2025
Friedrich Schiller’s The History of the Thirty Years' War is a detailed narrative of the devastating 17th-century European conflict (1618–1648). Here are the five main takeaways from the work:
1. Religious Conflict as a Catalyst: The war began as a struggle between Catholic and Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire, particularly sparked by the Bohemian revolt against Habsburg rule. Schiller emphasizes how religious divisions fueled initial conflicts, though political and territorial ambitions later dominated.
2. Political Fragmentation and Power Struggles: The war exposed the fragmented nature of the Holy Roman Empire, with local princes resisting centralized Habsburg authority. Schiller highlights how rivalries among European powers, like France and Sweden, prolonged the conflict as they pursued their own interests.
3. Devastation and Human Cost: Schiller vividly describes the war’s catastrophic impact, including widespread destruction, famine, and population loss (estimated at 20–50% in some German regions). The brutality and suffering underscore the consequences of prolonged warfare.
4. Key Figures and Leadership: Schiller focuses on influential figures like Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, Wallenstein, and Emperor Ferdinand II, whose decisions shaped the war’s course. Their strategic successes and failures illustrate the role of individual agency in historical events.
5. Peace of Westphalia and Lasting Impact: The war ended with the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which Schiller sees as a turning point in European politics. It established principles of state sovereignty, weakened the Holy Roman Empire, and reshaped the balance of power, setting the stage for modern nation-states.
Schiller’s work combines historical analysis with dramatic storytelling, offering insights into the interplay of religion, politics, and human ambition. For deeper context, you might explore primary sources or modern analyses of the Peace of Westphalia’s long-term effects.
1. Religious Conflict as a Catalyst: The war began as a struggle between Catholic and Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire, particularly sparked by the Bohemian revolt against Habsburg rule. Schiller emphasizes how religious divisions fueled initial conflicts, though political and territorial ambitions later dominated.
2. Political Fragmentation and Power Struggles: The war exposed the fragmented nature of the Holy Roman Empire, with local princes resisting centralized Habsburg authority. Schiller highlights how rivalries among European powers, like France and Sweden, prolonged the conflict as they pursued their own interests.
3. Devastation and Human Cost: Schiller vividly describes the war’s catastrophic impact, including widespread destruction, famine, and population loss (estimated at 20–50% in some German regions). The brutality and suffering underscore the consequences of prolonged warfare.
4. Key Figures and Leadership: Schiller focuses on influential figures like Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, Wallenstein, and Emperor Ferdinand II, whose decisions shaped the war’s course. Their strategic successes and failures illustrate the role of individual agency in historical events.
5. Peace of Westphalia and Lasting Impact: The war ended with the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which Schiller sees as a turning point in European politics. It established principles of state sovereignty, weakened the Holy Roman Empire, and reshaped the balance of power, setting the stage for modern nation-states.
Schiller’s work combines historical analysis with dramatic storytelling, offering insights into the interplay of religion, politics, and human ambition. For deeper context, you might explore primary sources or modern analyses of the Peace of Westphalia’s long-term effects.
February 2, 2021
Estoy impactado de los descubrimientos que hice recién empieza el 2021 en una obra maestra publicada en 1790 "Historia de la Guerra de los 30 años" del sensacional Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805).
Desde que llegué a vivir a Austria en 1993 había escuchado, sobre todo de mi gran amigo y mentor Horst Weber, diversos aspectos de un conflicto poco conocido por mí: La Guerra de los 30 años (1618-1648). Pero la verdad no alcanzaba a dimensionar su importancia para la historia universal. Estoy en shock.
Schiller explica con lujo de detalles no sólo las batallas, las negociaciones, los contextos de esta guerra cuyo pretexto fue la religión i.e. el cisma en el Cristianismo entre católicos y protestantes, sino desmenuza magistralmente los verdaderos motivos de la lucha por la hegemonía del Imperio Austriaco católico y la fortaleza del Reino de España católico, y la rebeldía protestante de muchos señores feudales alemanes y de los reyes de Suecia y las aspiraciones geopolíticas de Francia.
Es desesperante ver como sufrieron millones de seres humanos de hambre y enfermedades, de abusos y saqueos durante esta Guerra de 3 décadas.
Y que al final, ante las pérdidas cada vez mayores y el asedio de lo que era la capital del mundo europeo, Viena, tuvo que terminar con un fascinante Tratado de Paz: el Tratado de Westfalia, en 1648, el año en el que nacía, cruzando el Atlántico, la maravillosa Juana Inés, futura Sor de La Cruz.
¡El Tratado de Westfalia es de lo más relevante que pueda existir! Y Schiller lo explica magistralmente. Con este tratado se acaba el régimen geopolítico del Latifundio y nace el concepto maravilloso de Estado Nación y el concepto de Soberanía Nacional, aún depositada en monarcas, pero que décadas después evolucionaría en Repúblicas.
Desde que llegué a vivir a Austria en 1993 había escuchado, sobre todo de mi gran amigo y mentor Horst Weber, diversos aspectos de un conflicto poco conocido por mí: La Guerra de los 30 años (1618-1648). Pero la verdad no alcanzaba a dimensionar su importancia para la historia universal. Estoy en shock.
Schiller explica con lujo de detalles no sólo las batallas, las negociaciones, los contextos de esta guerra cuyo pretexto fue la religión i.e. el cisma en el Cristianismo entre católicos y protestantes, sino desmenuza magistralmente los verdaderos motivos de la lucha por la hegemonía del Imperio Austriaco católico y la fortaleza del Reino de España católico, y la rebeldía protestante de muchos señores feudales alemanes y de los reyes de Suecia y las aspiraciones geopolíticas de Francia.
Es desesperante ver como sufrieron millones de seres humanos de hambre y enfermedades, de abusos y saqueos durante esta Guerra de 3 décadas.
Y que al final, ante las pérdidas cada vez mayores y el asedio de lo que era la capital del mundo europeo, Viena, tuvo que terminar con un fascinante Tratado de Paz: el Tratado de Westfalia, en 1648, el año en el que nacía, cruzando el Atlántico, la maravillosa Juana Inés, futura Sor de La Cruz.
¡El Tratado de Westfalia es de lo más relevante que pueda existir! Y Schiller lo explica magistralmente. Con este tratado se acaba el régimen geopolítico del Latifundio y nace el concepto maravilloso de Estado Nación y el concepto de Soberanía Nacional, aún depositada en monarcas, pero que décadas después evolucionaría en Repúblicas.
January 16, 2021
Даже не стоит говорить о литературных достоинствах книги. С т.з. стиля и композиции - она великолепна. При этом даже нисколько не смущает очевидная "партийность" автора: его симпатии протестантам и крайне негативное отношение к контрреформации, роли Испании и Франции в германских делах. Эта "партийность" выражена эксплицитно, она не переходит в грубость, она не заставляет автора полностью забывать о мотивах противоположной стороны и достоинствах ее виднейших деятелей.
На мой взгляд, наиболее поучительный момент книги, центральная ось всего повествования - это история смещения и восстановления равновесия. Каждый раз, когда военная удача улыбается одному из участников конфликта, когда кажется, что он вот-вот приобретет достаточно ресурсов, чтобы окончательно установить свою единоличную гегемонию в Германии, происходит перегруппировка сил. Возникает новая конфигурация динамического равновесия.
С этой точки зрения эта книга могла бы стать хорошим учебным пособием для студентов наук, так или иначе связанных с управлением людьми.
На мой взгляд, наиболее поучительный момент книги, центральная ось всего повествования - это история смещения и восстановления равновесия. Каждый раз, когда военная удача улыбается одному из участников конфликта, когда кажется, что он вот-вот приобретет достаточно ресурсов, чтобы окончательно установить свою единоличную гегемонию в Германии, происходит перегруппировка сил. Возникает новая конфигурация динамического равновесия.
С этой точки зрения эта книга могла бы стать хорошим учебным пособием для студентов наук, так или иначе связанных с управлением людьми.
November 4, 2017
Old school history
The Thirty Years' War was not taught as a subject when I studied history at school in the UK a great many years ago. Until recently I just knew a few random facts - the King of Sweden killed in battle in the middle of Germany, the complete and utter devastation suffered in the heart of Europe, and the importance of avoiding windows in Prague. A few names - Tilly, Gustavus Adolphus, Axel Oxenstierna, and above all Wallenstein.
From somewhere I knew that Schiller had written a play about Wallenstein. I then found that he had also written this history of the War and as I wanted to read more classical German literature I decided to read it.
This book is a very readable account of the events of this war. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the period, perhaps in conjunction with the "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast by Zack Twamley which includes a great mini series on the Thirty Years'War.
The Thirty Years' War was not taught as a subject when I studied history at school in the UK a great many years ago. Until recently I just knew a few random facts - the King of Sweden killed in battle in the middle of Germany, the complete and utter devastation suffered in the heart of Europe, and the importance of avoiding windows in Prague. A few names - Tilly, Gustavus Adolphus, Axel Oxenstierna, and above all Wallenstein.
From somewhere I knew that Schiller had written a play about Wallenstein. I then found that he had also written this history of the War and as I wanted to read more classical German literature I decided to read it.
This book is a very readable account of the events of this war. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the period, perhaps in conjunction with the "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast by Zack Twamley which includes a great mini series on the Thirty Years'War.
May 16, 2018
A brilliant mind cannot hide his prejudice. Schiller’s loathing of anything Catholic is evident throughout this work. The first modern Total War was renowned for its brutal inhumanity by all participants, yet Papists appear to be the only ones painted with the brush of atrocity. Magdeburg was a travesty of Biblical proportions instigated by the Austrian Emperor’s Tilly and would today be considered a war crime only the Nazis could appreciate. Without downplaying this evil, I cannot believe that Catholicism had any bearing on the crime. This work is a struggle without a map and without a cultivated knowledge of European history, and I recommend it only for those with both.
Beware: This edition appears to be only 135 pages long, but the font is so shrunken that four regular pages are reduced to one page, the tome is more like 540 pages!
Beware: This edition appears to be only 135 pages long, but the font is so shrunken that four regular pages are reduced to one page, the tome is more like 540 pages!
March 1, 2018
That was an interesting read especially since there is currently an emerging interest in this war given that the situation in Syria sadly seems so similar (and still very different). Schilller is unfortunately not going into details like how life for normal people is. He is focusing on the big heroes and villains of the war and he doesn't shy away to portrait some pretty dark grey. Some things he describes are known to be false by historians today, so it was good to accompany the reading with at least a little bit of secondary literature or at least Wikipedia articles to the main figures. Ferdinand II, Wallenstein, Tilly, Gustav Adolf, Maximilan of Bavaria, the Duke of Saxony etc, they all got a space in my thoughts now.
January 11, 2023
Compelling narrative of history written back when professional historians needed only a "crazy uncle telling a story about his past"-level of recalling specifics. Gustavus Adolphus heads will love it. Habsberg stans may not like it, but they have to respect it.
November 19, 2024
This was a very mediocre read. I would not recommend this book to a novice on the Thirty Years' War.
May 4, 2012
The History of the Thirty Years War by Friedrich von Schiller is a comprehensive work of the political and for all religious climates in Europe in the first half of the seventeenth century (1618-1648). This war wasn’t only long but affected practically every country. This volume directs itself especially toward the Germanic States and little is actually mentioned about the military aspects of this conflict. It is important to know the reasons so many fractions committed themselves to arms but for most readers the book may seem dry and academic. It is not recommended reading for the casual reader but a must for European historians.
Read
June 10, 2015Have to archive this one and get back to it when I don't need condensed information. Schiller is a difficult read and some of his railing against the Catholic Church blur the lines of events that I need to understand for this research.
May 6, 2012
Interesting
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews