Essay --

The Third Phase of the war was the Danish intervention. Christian IV of Denmark had a strong interest in Germany. He was Lutheran so supported the Lutheran rulers of Lower Saxony. But he also had land in German. He was Duke of Holstein and the ruler of Hamburg, and his second son was made bishop. As a result Christian had himself appointed war leader and raised an army of 20,000-35,000 mercenaries, partly funded by France. The Protestants were suddenly inspired with fresh hope as Denmark became the first major European nation to enter the war (Thomas). In the 27 of August the Battle of Lutter-am-Bamberg began with a Catholic League army under Count Tilly. Tilly defeated the forces of Christian IV of Denmark at Lutter am Barenberge in the Imperial Circle Estate of Lower Saxony. Both armies had approximately 20,000 men. Three times the imperial infantry broke through the Danish line only to be driven back by a cavalry counter-attack. However, when the Catholics captured the Danish artillery, the Danes panicked and retreated. The Danish losses were roughly 4,000 dead, 2,000 wounded, and 2,500 prisoners (Richard). It was a significant loss of the protestant forces of Denmark. The Danish army had eventually been whittled away by catholic forces in further wars ending with a treaty binding Denmark to stop its support of the protestant German states, thus, ending the Danish intervention. The next phase, known as the Swedish intervention, began with Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden; he was the next foreign ruler to come to the aid of the German Lutherans and to seek political and financial advantage in Germany. Both France and the Dutch sent subsidies. In 1630 Gustav landed 13,000 men at Peenemunde. From 1630 to 1634, Swedish-led armie... ...ear later the French government was distracted by a rebellion, and the Spanish saw an opportunity to retake the city. The Prince de Condà © rushed from Catalonia to Flanders and cobbled together an army of 16,000 men and 18 guns to face the Archduke’s 18,000 men and 38 guns. Cavalry dominated both armies, with more than half the troops being horse. The Spanish deployed on high ground so Condà © decided to withdraw. This encouraged the Spanish cavalry to skirmish with the French rear guard. The fighting escalated into a full battle. The Spanish infantry drove their French counterparts back, breaking the regiment. However, French cavalry re-routed and enveloped the Spanish center. The French lost 3.500 casualties, but inflicted 3,000 dead or wounded and took 5,000 prisoners (Thomas). The war ended in Prague after the swedes snuck in ransacked and looted the Prague castle.