The Thirty Years WarThe Thirty Years War

An examination of war at the time of An examination of war at the time of Cyrano de Bergerac.Cyrano de Bergerac.

By Blake F.A. ChampagneBy Blake F.A. Champagne

BackgroundBackground of the Battle of the Battle The Siege of Arras took place in 1640 during the Thirty Years WarThe Siege of Arras took place in 1640 during the Thirty Years War

The Thirty Years War began originally as a war of religion centered in The Thirty Years War began originally as a war of religion centered in Germany, then called the Holy Roman Empire.Germany, then called the Holy Roman Empire.

The Holy Roman Empire was not so much an Empire but a loose The Holy Roman Empire was not so much an Empire but a loose confederation of German princes that more often than not were unable to confederation of German princes that more often than not were unable to cooperate.cooperate.

Divided loyalties and lack of religious conformity created impromptu Divided loyalties and lack of religious conformity created impromptu alliances with some of the greater powers in Europe and the individual alliances with some of the greater powers in Europe and the individual Germanic states.Germanic states.

The result of all this outside involvement combined with the individual The result of all this outside involvement combined with the individual agendas of the participants would be the most devastating war in Europe agendas of the participants would be the most devastating war in Europe before the Modern Era. before the Modern Era.

This political map of the Holy Roman Empire shows howinternally divided it was.

This religious map of the Holy Roman Empire shows howfaith also left it divided.

The War BeginsThe War Begins King Ferdinand II of Bohemia attempted to impose total conversion to King Ferdinand II of Bohemia attempted to impose total conversion to

Catholicism on his people in 1618.Catholicism on his people in 1618.

Bohemia was a powerful state in the Holy Roman Empire, and Ferdinand Bohemia was a powerful state in the Holy Roman Empire, and Ferdinand would later be appointed Emperor, but Bohemia was also Protestant, and would later be appointed Emperor, but Bohemia was also Protestant, and the attempts by its King to impose Catholicism caused Protestant nobles the attempts by its King to impose Catholicism caused Protestant nobles from Bohemia and Austria to organize revolt.from Bohemia and Austria to organize revolt.

The revolts were crushed, but it attracted attention from neighboring The revolts were crushed, but it attracted attention from neighboring kingdoms Denmark and Sweden, who invaded in an attempt to gain land kingdoms Denmark and Sweden, who invaded in an attempt to gain land under the pretense of assisting fellow Protestants. under the pretense of assisting fellow Protestants.

Spain, with holdings in Germany at the time, was driven to participate to Spain, with holdings in Germany at the time, was driven to participate to secure its borders.secure its borders.

Poland desired to neutralize its primary Baltic enemy, Sweden, while it was Poland desired to neutralize its primary Baltic enemy, Sweden, while it was preoccupied with the Holy Roman Empire. preoccupied with the Holy Roman Empire.

France would take the opportunity to expand north and destroy the threat of France would take the opportunity to expand north and destroy the threat of the spread of Protestant faiths. the spread of Protestant faiths.

The Story of RichelieuThe Story of Richelieu The main advocate for war with Germany was Cardinal de Richelieu, chief The main advocate for war with Germany was Cardinal de Richelieu, chief

minister to the absolutist king of France, Louis XIV. minister to the absolutist king of France, Louis XIV.

As a young man, Richelieu aspired to make a name for himself in the As a young man, Richelieu aspired to make a name for himself in the military, but due to his sickly nature, instead joined the clergy and on April military, but due to his sickly nature, instead joined the clergy and on April 1717thth, 1607, he was consecrated as bishop approximately at the age of , 1607, he was consecrated as bishop approximately at the age of twenty-one.twenty-one.

Richelieu’s political career would begin in 1614 at an assembly the States Richelieu’s political career would begin in 1614 at an assembly the States General, a meeting of representatives of the social classes of France, where General, a meeting of representatives of the social classes of France, where Richelieu would represent the clergy of Poitou. Richelieu would represent the clergy of Poitou.

Despite his extremist desires to exempt the church of taxes and to persecute Despite his extremist desires to exempt the church of taxes and to persecute the protestants, he easily influenced the young king Louis the XIV by saying the protestants, he easily influenced the young king Louis the XIV by saying he stated that he wanted royal power to be “as a firm rock which crushes all he stated that he wanted royal power to be “as a firm rock which crushes all that opposes it.”that opposes it.”

Richelieu displayed a knack for maintaining the affairs of state and is Richelieu displayed a knack for maintaining the affairs of state and is credited with being the key figure behind the absolute power Louis XIV credited with being the key figure behind the absolute power Louis XIV wielded and establishing the internal and external policies of France.wielded and establishing the internal and external policies of France.

Cardinal Richelieu, Chief Minister of France.

King Louis XIV, first autocratic king of France.

The Roles of Richelieu and The Roles of Richelieu and FranceFrance

Richelieu had three main goals for France and its evolution:Richelieu had three main goals for France and its evolution:

An autocratic monarchy with unlimited powers. An autocratic monarchy with unlimited powers.

Conversion of France and neighboring lands to the Catholic faith.Conversion of France and neighboring lands to the Catholic faith.

Expansion of the French borders and security against rivals.Expansion of the French borders and security against rivals.

Just as all other participants of the Thirty Years War with a religious cause Just as all other participants of the Thirty Years War with a religious cause and motivation to expand power, the armies of France marched to Germany.and motivation to expand power, the armies of France marched to Germany.

Preparations for the Preparations for the Conquest of ArrasConquest of Arras

The Siege of Arras was ordered by Cardinal Richelieu himself in his efforts The Siege of Arras was ordered by Cardinal Richelieu himself in his efforts to secure Catholic France. to secure Catholic France.

Arras, located just north of France, was held by the Spanish-Hapsburg Arras, located just north of France, was held by the Spanish-Hapsburg kingdom. kingdom.

From this heavily fortified settlement the entire region could be subjugated, From this heavily fortified settlement the entire region could be subjugated, meaning that the short stretch of Protestant lands between France and meaning that the short stretch of Protestant lands between France and Catholic Belgium would give way to conversion efforts and create a firm Catholic Belgium would give way to conversion efforts and create a firm buffer between France and the mainly Protestant North. buffer between France and the mainly Protestant North.

To weaken Arras, Marechal de Chatillon threatened the Spanish forts of Aire To weaken Arras, Marechal de Chatillon threatened the Spanish forts of Aire and Bethune, which forced the Spanish to divert troops from Arras to defend and Bethune, which forced the Spanish to divert troops from Arras to defend the key strongholds.the key strongholds.

Marechal de Chatillon then combined his troops with those of Maréchal de Marechal de Chatillon then combined his troops with those of Maréchal de La Meilleraye to create a force 23,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry strong, and La Meilleraye to create a force 23,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry strong, and together they laid siege to Arras.together they laid siege to Arras.

A map detailing the siege works put around Arras by theFrench.

The Siege ItselfThe Siege Itself The French surrounded Arras with trenches and established fortifications to The French surrounded Arras with trenches and established fortifications to

withstand counter attacks. withstand counter attacks.

Just as the French plans began to solidify a sizable Spanish force laid siege Just as the French plans began to solidify a sizable Spanish force laid siege to the besiegers, trying, and nearly succeeding, to starve out the French to the besiegers, trying, and nearly succeeding, to starve out the French forces. forces.

Relief came when 1,500 wagon packed with supplies and its compliment of Relief came when 1,500 wagon packed with supplies and its compliment of 2,000 men were able to pass through the Spanish lines. 2,000 men were able to pass through the Spanish lines.

The commanding officer of the Spanish forces within the town discovered The commanding officer of the Spanish forces within the town discovered that French troops were resupplied and, desperate to prevent the revival of that French troops were resupplied and, desperate to prevent the revival of the French troops, made a preemptive strike on August 8the French troops, made a preemptive strike on August 8 thth, 1640 on those , 1640 on those besieging the eastern flank. besieging the eastern flank.

During this skirmish, Cyrano de Bergerac received a sword-cut to During this skirmish, Cyrano de Bergerac received a sword-cut to the neck, but survived. the neck, but survived.

The following day the Spanish surrendered after the realization that The following day the Spanish surrendered after the realization that explosive had been planted by the French beneath the walls of the city.explosive had been planted by the French beneath the walls of the city.

Credits

The following citations reference sources of information used in this presentation:

"Armand-Jean Du Plessis, Duke De Richelieu." CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Cardinal Richelieu. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13047a.htm>.

"Louis XIII." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://www.history.com/topics/louis-xiii>.

Newark, Timothy. The Grammar of Warfare: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the History of Warfare from the Ancient World to the American Civil War. New York: Fall River, 2009. Print

"Siege of Arras, 1640." Fortified Places Sieges Arras 1640. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. <http://www.fortified-places.com/sieges/arras1640.html>.

"Thirty Years' War (European History)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592619/Thirty-Years-War>.

The following citations reference sources of images used in this presentation:

"Mike Dust Fascinatum - Cardinal Richelieu - Vol. 2 - August - No. 41." MIKEDUSTMIKEDUSTMIKEDUST. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://www.mikedust.com/fascinatum/2002/fascinatum-082502.html>.

"Siege of Arras, 1640." Fortified Places Sieges Arras 1640. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. <http://www.fortified-places.com/sieges/arras1640.html>.

"Spanish Succession." : Battle of Blenheim. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.http://www.britishbattles.com/spanish-succession/battle-blenheim.htm>.

"Thirty Years' War (European History)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592619/Thirty-Years-War>.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_Roman_Empire_1648.svg>.