1. Central European Monarchs Clash: The Hapsburg Family
Holy Roman Empire:
Holy Roman Emperor: Charles V (Hapsburg)
Spain & Austria:
Phillip and Ferdinand
(Hapsburgs)
German States:
Various Protestant &
Catholic Princes
How did the Holy Roman Empire come to an end?

2. The Thirty Years War- Background
Charles V = Hapsburg family & Catholic
Charles V signed the Peace of Augsburg
created peace between Cath. & Prot. Princes
German empire churches could be Lutheran or Cath.
Charles V’s brother, Ferdinand, was a Cath. Prince
Ferdinand ruled Bohemia and Prot’s there didn’t trust him
Ferdinand closed some Prot. churches, the people revolted
Ferdinand sent in his army to crush the Protestant revolt
Other Prot. German princes sent in their armies to help Protestants
This started the Thirty Years War

3. Thirty Years War- Course
In the first 12 years of the war the Catholic Hapsburg armies from Spain and Austria were crushing the Protestant Princes
However, in 1630 Protestant Prince, Gustavus Adolphus, beat the Hapsburgs and drove them out of northern Germany
Catholic France sent in troops to fight the Hapsburgs – France wanted to weaken the Hapsburg Empire

4. Thirty Years War Effects- New Countries
The war ended with the “Peace of Westphalia”
1) Haps.were weakened in Sp. (Phillip) and Aust. (Ferdinand)
2) Strengthened Fr. by giving it new Germ. territory
3) Made Germ. princes independent from HRE
4) New way to end a war – Peace Treaty!
This war ends the Holy Roman Empire & creates independent German states
The Hapsburgs regain power in Austria
defeat the Ottoman Empire & gain new territory
New Haps. Ruler, Maria Teresa, would also face a new challenge from the German State of Prussia

5. The Seven Years War
Prussia’s new leader, Frederick II, wanted to expand Prussia
He combined two German states, Prussia & Brandenburg
To avoid Prussia being attacked, Frederick decided to attack the Haps. in Aust.
Maria Theresa of Austria
Frederick II of Prussia VS

6. Frederick signed an alliance with Fr. to attack the Haps.
Maria Theresa convinced Britain to join her fight
British disliked the French- they were glad to help
At first, Prussia is winning and gains new territory from the Haps.
Maria Theresa convinced Fr. to switch sides and go against Prussia
When Brit. hears Fr. is allied with Austria, they switched sides
Maria Theresa also convinces Russia to join her side
The war was fought both in Europe and the colonies in the Americas
There were no winners in Europe – little territory changed
However, in the Americas, Britain was the big winner taking away much of France’s Canadian territory (French and Indian War) VS
Prussia & Britain
Austria, Russia, France