http://tspwiki.com/index.php?title=1629
Here are some one liners...
The Edict of Restitution: The Stuff Has Really Hit the Fan Now -- The Emperor confiscates the property of the Protestants. I talk about why that might seem like a reasonable idea from the Emperor's point of view.
The English Parliament Gets the Boot as 11 Years of Tyranny Begins -- King Charles becomes a tyrant this year after his adviser is assassinated and Parliament opposes him.
The Edict of Restitution: The Stuff Has Really Hit the Fan Now
Simply put... all property that was once owned by the Catholic Church 74 years ago and now held by Protestants, must be returned to the Catholic Church even though the Protestants had paid good money for it. No payback. No way back. Just do it or die. This is a major turning point in the 30 Years' War. General von Wallenstein and his 30,000 troops are enforcing the edict and except for the city of Magdeburg (a major city) the transfer is going smoothly if sullenly. This and previous successes by Wallenstein will make Emperor Ferdinand the 2nd nervous, thus causing him to forcibly retire Wallenstein to his estates. That lapse in judgment will leave an opening for the Protestant King Gustav the 2nd of Sweden to move troops into Germany to challenge the Emperor with the help of Cardinal Richelieu of France. That move will change everything. [1] [2] [3] [4]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
So... how did we get to a place where taking people's property (especially religious property) seemed like a good idea? The problem had been building for the last 74 years since a previous Emperor negotiated a treaty to separate the Catholics and Protestants by province, transfer religious property as needed, and let people move to communities that shared their beliefs. But over the years, conquests at the borders of provinces caused towns to switch religious affiliation several times. Lax enforcement of religious separation, allowed mixing of religious communities, and Emperor Ferdinand the 2nd believed that maintaining such a separation was an implied acceptance of a second Christian religion. Because the Emperor was winning the war, he took the opportunity to force the Protestants back into the Catholic Church, but Cardinal Richelieu saw that the Emperor was becoming too strong, and would eventually turn his victorious armies on France so the Cardinal paid for King Gustav of Sweden to attack and weaken the Emperor.
So... how did we get to a place where taking people's property (especially religious property) seemed like a good idea? The problem had been building for the last 74 years since a previous Emperor negotiated a treaty to separate the Catholics and Protestants by province, transfer religious property as needed, and let people move to communities that shared their beliefs. But over the years, conquests at the borders of provinces caused towns to switch religious affiliation several times. Lax enforcement of religious separation, allowed mixing of religious communities, and Emperor Ferdinand the 2nd believed that maintaining such a separation was an implied acceptance of a second Christian religion. Because the Emperor was winning the war, he took the opportunity to force the Protestants back into the Catholic Church, but Cardinal Richelieu saw that the Emperor was becoming too strong, and would eventually turn his victorious armies on France so the Cardinal paid for King Gustav of Sweden to attack and weaken the Emperor.
The English Parliament Gets the Boot as 11 Years of Tyranny Begins
The Duke of Buckingham was assassinated last year... having been an embarrassingly incompetent military leader and escaping impeachment from the English Parliament only by intervention by King Charles the 1st. The public was ecstatic with the Duke's death and venerated the assassin even after King Charles had the man executed. Although King Charles is doing nothing beyond the normal powers of previous English kings, he is definitely ruling against the popular sentiment of his subjects. With a crushing economic depression in progress, and his religious persecution of the Puritans, the King's subjects are escaping in droves for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Since the Duke had been the King's advisor on foreign policy, and there is no war going on at this time, and since Parliament has been giving him such a hard time, King Charles dissolves Parliament and rules Great Britain alone. This is the beginning of 11 years of tyranny, leading to a civil war, followed by his trail for treason and the beheading of King Charles the 1st in 1649. [5] [6] [7] [8]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
The 1st Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers, is a prime example of the problem of promoting someone based on favoritism rather than on merit. This was mostly the error of King James the 1st who liked George's angelic face. King James bought him clothing and guided his career is such a way as to make sure George was always near the King. Eventually he made George a Duke. If this all sounds a little strange, well, it sounded strange to historians too. After King James died, King Charles kept the Duke around as an advisor. The Duke seemed to be not very good at the details of warfare as if he knew generally what to do but didn't realize that his troops required organization, discipline and training. A good example is when the Duke attacked France. On paper the plan looked perfectly reasonable, but once his troops came ashore, they found a warehouse filled with wine and thereafter all discipline was lost. After a drunken party they managed to escape without accomplishing much of anything. That was one of the Duke's better missions. I've known many people that I could hang out with but could never work with. [9] [10]
The 1st Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers, is a prime example of the problem of promoting someone based on favoritism rather than on merit. This was mostly the error of King James the 1st who liked George's angelic face. King James bought him clothing and guided his career is such a way as to make sure George was always near the King. Eventually he made George a Duke. If this all sounds a little strange, well, it sounded strange to historians too. After King James died, King Charles kept the Duke around as an advisor. The Duke seemed to be not very good at the details of warfare as if he knew generally what to do but didn't realize that his troops required organization, discipline and training. A good example is when the Duke attacked France. On paper the plan looked perfectly reasonable, but once his troops came ashore, they found a warehouse filled with wine and thereafter all discipline was lost. After a drunken party they managed to escape without accomplishing much of anything. That was one of the Duke's better missions. I've known many people that I could hang out with but could never work with. [9] [10]
This Year on Wikipedia
Year 1629, Wikipedia.
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