1. The Rise of Austria and Prussia The Age of Absolutism Chapter 4, Section 4

2. The Thirty Years’ War  Begins in the Holy Roman Empire – made up of several hundred small, separate states.  These states were ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor, who was chosen by German princes, called electors. The emperor had little real power.  Religion divided these states; the north was primarily Protestant, and the south was primarily Catholic.

4. The Thirty Years’ War, cont.  Ferdinand was elected Holy Roman Emperor (1619) and he tried to roll back the Reformation.  The fighting was intense and brutal; mercenaries destroyed and plundered villages.  Depopulation of the German states occurred: due to murder, torture, famine and disease, killed perhaps as much as 1/3 of the population in the German states.

5. The Thirty Years’ War, cont.  May 1618 begins in Bohemia as a local conflict; the Hapsburg king, Ferdinand (Catholic), tried to control the local Protestant nobles.  (May 1618) In Prague, some Protestant nobles led a rebellion and tossed several Catholic royal officials out a window.  This event becomes known as the Defenstration of Prague, sparking the Thirty Years War.

6. The Thirty Years’ War, cont.  Peace comes in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia, a series of treaties.  France emerged as a winner and gained a little territory; the Netherlands and present day Switzerland were recognized as independent states.  Germany was left divided into more than 360 separate states.

8. Hapsburg Austria  Maria Theresa, a Catholic, becomes heir to the Austrian Hapsburg empire after the death of her father, Charles VI.  The War of Austrian Succession (1740)  She was successful in winning the support of her people and strengthening her empire, all while giving birth and raising 16 children!

9. The Rise of Prussia  Prussia emerged in 1600’s as a strong Protestant power under the Hohenzollern family.  Held a belief in militarism; had one of the best trained armies in Europe.  Led by Frederick William I (1713) who won the support of the Junkers, then by his son, Frederick II (1740), whom he had trained in the art of war since birth.  Frederick II eventually becomes known as Frederick the Great.  Prussia and Austria battled over control of the German States.