Ferdinand gave another direction to the war

chapter two by F. Schiller translated by J.M. Rakotolahy

Chapter Two: Ferdinand gave the war a really different direction.

 

The resolution which Ferdinand has now taken, gave the war a really different direction, a really different scene and really different players. From a rebellion in Bohemia and a decision of execution against the rebels, the situation degenerated into a German war and soon a European war. Hence, it is now time to have a look in Germany and the rest of Europe. No matter how unequal were divided the foundation and territory of the German Empire and the privileges of its members among Catholics and Protestants, hence, might every party only use their own advantages, only keep together in diplomatic harmony, in order to remain a match for their opponents. If the Catholics had the superiority of numbers for themselves and were more favoured by the imperial constitution, hence, possessed the Protestants a cohesive attitude; richer states, aggressive princes, a bellicose nobility, numerous armies, prosperous imperial cities, the prevalence over the seas and in the worst case, a reliable partisanship in the countries of the catholic Princes.

 

If the catholic Spain and Italy could provide them more weapons with their assistance, hence, the republics of Venice, Holland and England opened their coffers for the Protestants, hence, they found the states of the north and the fearsome Turkish might ready for a quicker help. Brandenburg, Saxony and Palatinate were the three spiritual votes in the Electorate Palatinate Council opposed to three significant protestant votes and for the Electorate Palatinate Prince of Bohemia, as for the Archduke of Austria, the Imperial dignity constituted a chain if the protestant Imperial authorities undertook to use their importance. The sword of the Union could keep the sword of the League in the scabbard or hence, make dubious the outcome of the war when it really depended on it. However, private relationships tore unfortunately the general political boundary which the protestant imperial members should be holding together.

 

The great moment found only average spirits on the scene and unused remained the decisive moment because it lacked might to the courageous, and insight, courage and decisiveness to the mighty, To the merit of his ancestor Moriz, the size of his territories and the weight of his vote, put the Electorate Palatinate Princes of Saxony on the top of the Protestant Party in Germany. From the resolution which this Prince took, depended whichever of both disputing parties should be winning: was Johann Georg also not sensitive to the advantages which created for him this important balance of power. It being a similarly important conquest for the Emperor and for the protestant alliance, he avoided carefully to really provide it to either one of both, and through an irrevocable declaration chose either to rely himself on the gratitude of the Emperor or to give up the advantages which were to be gained from the fear of this Prince. Immune from the dizziness of chivalry and religious fervour which brought down a sovereign one after the other; to risk crown and life on war’s game of chance, strived Johann Georg after a solid glory, to take advice and to improve his own.

 

If his contemporaries blamed him that he, in the middle of the storm, has abandoned the Protestant cause, that he put aside the safety of the fatherland for that of his House; that he has deprived the whole evangelical church in Germany of an exit in order only to raise the weapon against the Reformed Church, when they blamed him that he has not lesser damaged the common cause as a distrustful friend as much as their most declared enemies: hence that was what was guilty of this Prince who did not take the wise political stand of Johann Georg. If, independently from this wise political move, the farmer from Saxony as any other person, deplored the devastation caused by the passage of the imperial armies; if the whole Germany was witness how Ferdinand deceived his fellow allied and derided his promises, if Johann Georg believed to remark this fact, finally, by himself, the more shame it brought to the Emperor who fooled so terribly such a honest confidence! If exaggerated trust in Austria and hope to enlarge their territories bound together the Electorate Princes of Saxony, hence, the fear before Austria and the concern of losing their territories kept the weak Georg Wilhelm of Brandenburg within more shameful chains.

 

What people blamed these two princes, has saved the reputation and the territories of the Electorate Prince of Pfalz. Rapid trust in unproven forces, the influence of the French counsellors and the misleading shine of a crown have enticed into making a bold move this unfortunate prince to whom neither his genius nor his political constitution has prepared for. Through division of his territories and the terrible harmony of his ruler would be weakened the power of the House of Pfalz which, gathered in a unique hand, could have made doubtful the outcome of the war still for a long time. Precisely this dismemberment of the territories weakened also the princely House of Hessen and the difference in religion entertained between Darmstadt and Kassel a corruptible separation. The lineage of Darmstadt, acquired to the confession of Augsburg, has fled under the wings of the Emperor who favoured it at the expense of the reformed lineage of Kassel. While his fellow religion followers lost their blood for belief and freedom, the Landgrave Georg of Darmstadt received remuneration from the Emperor.

 

However, in line with the conduct of his ancestors who hundred years earlier have undertaken to defend the freedom of Germany against the fearsome Charles, Wilhelm of Kassel chose the party of danger and honour. Sublime beyond the pusillanimity which bowed to the unequally more powerful Princes under the almighty Ferdinand, the landgrave Wilhelm the first who brought his heroic arm voluntarily to help the Swedish heroes and gave Germany’s Princes an example which no one would be doing in the beginning. His resolution revealed so much courage, his persistence showed so much determination; his actions so much braveness. With bold resolution, he presented himself before his country and received with witticism an enemy whose hands were still having the marks of the murderous fire in Magdeburg. Landgrave Wilhelm is worthy of immortality besides the heroic branch of the Ernestines. Slowly appeared to you the day of revenge, unfortunate Johann Friedrich, noble and unforgettable Prince! Slowly but gloriously it rose. Your time came again and on your grandson ascended your heroic spirit.

 

A valiant line of Princes came from the forests of Thüringen to shame through immortal acts the judgment which the Kurhut put on your head, in order to reconcile through numerous bloody sacrifices with your raging shadow. Your countries could not rob them of the saying/decision of the winner; but not the patriotic virtue through which you applied them, not the chivalrous courage which a century earlier have made trembled the throne of his ancestors. Your and Germany’s revenge dragged them the Habsburg lineage a sacred sword and from a heroic hand to the other was inherited the untamed steel. You did perform as men, what you could not do as rulers and died of a glorious death – as the bravest soldiers of freedom. Too weak on the lands in order to attack their enemies with their own armies, they directed foreign thunders again them and led foreign flags into victory.

 

The freedom of Germany, renounced by the powerful authorities, on which hence alone returned their good acts, would be defended by a small number of Princes for whom it hardly possessed a value. The possession of lands and dignities killed courage; lack of these two made up the heroes. If the authorities of Saxony, Brandenburg among others. retreated trembling, hence, people saw those of Anhalt, Mansfeld, the Princes of Weimar among others gave their blood in murderous massacres. The Dukes of Pommern, of Mecklenburg, of Lüneburg, of Wirtenberg, the imperial cities in Northern Germany to which the ruler of the Empire was previously a feared name, pulled fearfully from the battle with the Emperor and bowed themselves, complaining, under his crushing hand. Austria and the Catholic Germany had in the person of Duke Maximilian of Bavaria an equally powerful as diplomatic and valiant protector.

 

In the whole course of this war, he was faithful to a unique, superior plan, he has never doubt between his state advantages and his religion, he was never a slave of Austria which worked for its greatness and has never trembled before its saving arm, Maximilian has deserved to receive the dignities and territories which was rewarded to him from a better hand than arbitrariness.