Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including religious, dynastic, territorial, and commercial rivalries. Its destructive campaigns and battles occurred over most of Europe, and, when it ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the map of Europe had been irrevocably changed. A brief treatment of the Thirty Years’ War follows. For full treatment, see Europe, history of: The Thirty Years’ War. Although the struggles that created it erupted some years earlier, the war is conventionally held to have begun in 1618, when the future Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand II, in his role as king of Bohemia, attempted to impose Roman Catholic absolutism on his domains, and the Protestant nobles of both Bohemia and Austria rose up in rebellion.

history renaissance encyclopedia High school article Germany Britannica 17th century encyclopeadia chy4u chy4c 30 years war senior history grade 12 history chm4e adventures in world history thirty years’ war 30 years war history holy roman emperor 17th century war