How Did Religion Influence European Society

In 1630 Sweden enters the war led by King Gustavus Adolphus a Protestant. He was a seasoned campaigner, a military genius, who not only commands battles, but fought on the battle field. His entry into the war was to gain territory and he feared Ferdinand’s maritime designs might threaten Sweden’s hold of the Baltic. Swedish troops marched into Germany in the name of Protestantism and territory. Gustavus was killed in the battle of Lutzen in 1632. The Protestant revival continued until in 1634 when a Spanish army intervened and at Nordlingen defeating the main Swedish field army and forcing the Protestants out of southern Germany. Once again Ferdinand’s Catholic rule prevailed. Hapsburg success, however, angered France, who feared a blockade, declared war on Spain in 1635 and then on the emperor in 1636. This war brought in other countries at this time, for example Poland led a military invasion in Russia. The war fought largely by the German states, now became a battle among great powers such as Sweden, France, Spain and Austria. The

A major destabilizing influence was eradicated in European politics, which had undermined the internal union of many states and overturned the politic balance of power created during the Renaissance. This was perhaps the biggest achievement of the Thirty Years’ war. The thread of religion ran through the Thirty Years War however, it became clear religion was just the umbrella under which these wars were fought. Power, politics, financial and territorial gain were equally important to the combatants of the war. For the men on the ground involved in the hand to hand combat, religion was less of a factor as they fought beside men of different religions. Payment for their contributions was the initial enticement, however, most of these men did not receive the payment promised to them therefore survival at all cost was what consumed