The French Period
- Stretching from 1635-1648, the war lost its religious character and had become political.
- Cardinal Richelieu, the real ruler of France, wanted to block the growth of Hapsburg power by interfering on the Protestant side.
- The war was a struggle between French Bourbons and Austrian Hapsburg. In 1635, Richelieu marched the French army into Germany and joined with the Swedish army.
- The Protestants and their allies had magnificent leaders, including Vicomte de Turenne and Louis II, the Prince of Conde. They won a series of victories that gave new hope to the Protestants in Germany.
- French military efforts met with disaster, the Spanish counter-attacked, invading French territory.
- The Imperial general Johann von Werth and Spanish commander Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Spain ravaged the French provinces of Champagne, Burgundy and Picardy, and even threatened Paris in 1636.
- Then the tide began to turn for the French. The Spanish army was repulsed by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar. Bernhard's victory in the Battle of Compiègne pushed the Habsburg armies back towards the borders of France. Then, for a time, widespread fighting ensued until 1640, with neither side gaining an advantage.
- Peace negotiations were proposed by 1640.
Tori Padula
- Cardinal Richelieu, the real ruler of France, wanted to block the growth of Hapsburg power by interfering on the Protestant side.
- The war was a struggle between French Bourbons and Austrian Hapsburg. In 1635, Richelieu marched the French army into Germany and joined with the Swedish army.
- The Protestants and their allies had magnificent leaders, including Vicomte de Turenne and Louis II, the Prince of Conde. They won a series of victories that gave new hope to the Protestants in Germany.
- French military efforts met with disaster, the Spanish counter-attacked, invading French territory.
- The Imperial general Johann von Werth and Spanish commander Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Spain ravaged the French provinces of Champagne, Burgundy and Picardy, and even threatened Paris in 1636.
- Then the tide began to turn for the French. The Spanish army was repulsed by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar. Bernhard's victory in the Battle of Compiègne pushed the Habsburg armies back towards the borders of France. Then, for a time, widespread fighting ensued until 1640, with neither side gaining an advantage.
- Peace negotiations were proposed by 1640.
Tori Padula