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The Schmalkaldic League was a Protestant alliance which launched a preventive war against the emperor. After losing the Schmalcaldic War the league was forced to dissolve itself.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 10 Jul 1546 – 23 May 1547
  • Location: Holy Roman Empire
  • Start: Schmalkaldic troops occupy Füssen
  • End: Capitulation of Wittenberg – Victory of the emperor

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • John Frederick I (1503 – 1554), Elector of Saxony (Ernstine line)
  • Philip I (1504 – 1567), Landgrave of Hesse
  • Charles V (1500 – 1558), Emperor
  • Maurice (1521 – 1553), Duke of Saxony (Albertine Line)

 

Background

  • The Reformation widely spreads in the Holy Roman Empire
  • The Protestant territories & cities gain economic & political power
  • Weakening of the emperor
  • The emperor considers Protestants as heretics

 

History

Prologue to the Schmalkaldic War

  • 27 Feb 1531: Foundation of the Schmalcaldic League (defensive alliance of Protestant territories)
  • 1544: Charles V makes peace with France & reaches a truce with the Ottoman Empire
  • 1544: Pope promises Charles V military & financial support for a “religious war”
  • 1545-1546: Charles V forms alliances for the war, esp. neutrality of Bavaria & Duchy of Saxony
  • 04 Jul 1546: Elector John Frederick & Landgrave Philipp decide for a pre-emptive war

 

The War in the South

  • 10 Jul 1546: Schmalkaldic troops occupy Füssen – imperial army flees to Bavaria
  • Aug — Oct 1546: Schmalkaldic forces are looking for a decisive battle
  • Oct 1546: Maurice of Saxony & Archduke Ferdinand invade the Electorate of Saxony
  • Nov 1546: John Frederick moves his forces back to the Electorate of Saxony
  • Nov 1546: Schmalkaldic army dissolves itself because of a lack of finances

 

The War in Saxony

  • Dec 1546 – Jan. 1547: Charles V forces Württemberg, Palatinate & southern cities to surrender or remain neutral
  • Jan 1547: Saxon troops expel hostile forces from the Electorate Saxony
  • Apr 1547: Imperial forces defeat a Saxon army in the battle of Mühlberg & take John Frederick prisoner
  • 19 May 1547: John Frederick signs the Capitulation of Wittenberg
  • 19 Jun 1547: Charles V breaks his word & imprisons Landgrave Philipp (release 1552 with John Frederick)

 

Consequences & Impact

  • End of the Schmalkaldic League
  • Ernistine line looses territories & the electoral dignity to the Albertine line
  • Peak of the emperor’s might
  • Basis for the Princes’ Revolt & the emperor’s loss of power
  • The ravages during the war give a foretaste of the devastation to come during the Thirty Years' War