Thirty Years' War
Photo: Francesco Gasparetti, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Thirty Years' War lasted from 1618 to 1648 in Europe, and was one of the most destructive wars in European history, claiming around eight million lives in total. In some places half the pre-war population died and the war thoroughly influenced the Baroque Era which had prevalent themes of "vanitas" or the ultimate death and decay of all earthly things.
The war was linked to preceding and subsequent conflicts, and in the Netherlands it is known as the Eighty Years' War ending in 1648 with Dutch independence being recognized de jure.
UnderstandWith God and victorious arms The war has its roots in the Protestant Reformation, where especially northern Europe became Protestant, and broke away from the Catholic church.
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Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Thirty Years' War" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Francesco Gasparetti, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons