WDF 25.5 In Two Parts

Hello history friends! It's been a busy past few weeks what with college and such starting up again. Not only that, but this recent release covering the end of the 1620's within the 30 Years War is one of the most action packed and in my opinion strongest content I have yet released.

It took a whole lot of work, but as usual it was a labour of love. The idea to do the two episodes on the one period is probably obvious unless you have yet to listen to the episodes; there is just so much going on during the period, and so much as it was that I had to leave out, that I felt I had to split it into two. This decision emerged only about a week ago. I was virtually all set to record the podcast, when I figured that, instead of releasing an hour and a half episode, which I hate doing anyway, and only covering items in a little bit of detail, I should instead make the decision to split the content in two.

So I did, the first part covers Fredrick's attempts to construct the Hague Alliance between the Dutch, English and Danes, as well as the Swedes who pop into our narrative from time to time. Then we look at what eventually convinced the King of Denmark, Christian IV, to enter the war after years of saying no. Wallenstein is introduced, as something of a genius but with clear ulterior motives. That episode concludes while looking ominously at the HRE's future under a triumphant Ferdinand.

The next episode looks at Ferdinand's actions for the majority of the time. First we look at the revolt in 1626 in Upper Austria that was something of a preview of what was to come in the wider empire, should Ferdinand make the decision to actually try to implement his planned reforms. His reforms, the Edict of Restitution, are explained in hopefully terms that make it easy enough to understand, and we then look at the international scene, and how the Dutch and French fortunes intertwine, not for the first time, and culminate in their requests for aid from a certain Swede in particular.

So yes, a lot happens, and though it took a lot of work, I'm glad I did it because I really feel an era like this one deserves such coverage, especially when one might not know that much going into it beforehand. Thanks for listening and reading this, and here's a few maps that may prove useful to ya!

Thankssssss.

A Map of the HRE showing the location of Brandenburg

This is what the Edict of Restitution looked like on paper, quite innocent looking don't you think?

The siege of s-Hertogenbosch in mapped form, showing Fredrick Henry's forces as the star in the top left corner.

Another show of what the Palatine of the Rhine, or the Palatinate looked like in respect to Europe.

And another repeat of a map, this one of the detailed representations of who and what and where in Europe's most complex geographical creation: the Holy Roman Empire and its tributaries.