The Thirty Years’ War was one of the most devastating conflicts in European history, fought primarily between Protestant and Catholic states in the Holy Roman Empire. It began in 1618 when Protestant nobles in Bohemia rebelled against the Catholic Habsburg rulers in what became known as the Defenestration of Prague. The war quickly escalated as major European powers, including Sweden, France, and Spain, became involved. Battles, famine, and disease killed millions, particularly in Germany, which suffered severe depopulation.
The war ended with the Peace of Westphalia on October 24, 1648, which established the principle of state sovereignty—meaning that rulers could choose their country’s religion without interference from external forces. This agreement reshaped Europe’s political landscape, reducing the power of the Holy Roman Empire and strengthening France and Sweden. It also began a more secular approach to governance, as religious conflicts became less dominant in European politics. The devastation of the war contributed to the decline of feudalism and the rise of centralized nation-states.
How long has it been since the end of the Thirty Years' War?
5 months,
11 days,
13h : 43m : 23s
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