History Video Blog #22

Posted on February 22, 2010 by admin

Our story takes place as the war breaks out–in Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic). Bohemia was a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire (neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an empire). The HRE was a virtually ungovernable hodge-podge of 360 autonomous political entities joined together under an emperor who was elected by an elite group drawn from the 360 “countries.” The Imperial crown was elective, but had gone traditionally to a person from the Hapsburg family. The Hapsburgs were rabidly Catholic, but were forced to abate their usual hatred of Protestants by the checks of the powerful electors. Bohemia’s religious liberties had been guaranteed since 1575.

But in 1618, a scion of the Hapsburg family named Ferdinand became king of Bohemia. Ferdinand had been educated by Jesuits and had little regard for past treaties convinced as he was that Prot must be stamped out. His first act of office was to revoke Protestant liberties in Bohemia. What happened next was the stuff (or stink) of legend.

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  • http://twitter.com/culfinatan/status/9564881475 Dr. Liam Atchison

    RT @culfinatan: New Post. History Video Blog #22 http://is.gd/93BGf Avast me hearties! It be the Thirty Years War! #hvb

  • Hope

    First, I never knew that Bohemia was the Czech Republic! And second, I would say that I would visit Poland – I think that everybody should see Auschwitz once…

  • http://www.emmahouse.org admin

    Hope: Yes, indeed. BTW, join the Skype History Buddy contest: http://www.modernera.us/wordpress/skype-history-buddy-contest/

  • http://starttags.com/tags/hapsburg-family hapsburg family

    [...] treats every visitor to a tour showcasing the mementos of the once powerful Hapsburg family. …History Video Blog #22 | The RaftThe Imperial crown was elective, but had gone traditionally to a person from the Hapsburg family. [...]

  • http://www.readwithjoy.com Dee Anne

    Since I’ve never been to Europe, I’m not too picky. I’d like to visit places full of history and great art. (And it’d be nice to have someone along to tell stories. Hmmmm…who could that be??)

  • allthingstoall

    I want to go to Germany and follow Luther's journey through his life–I feel like I want to do this before 2017 so I am ready for the big 500th anniversary.

  • http://www.modernera.us/wordpress culfinatan

    Ah, you should plan to join my Reformation tour in 2011. There is a facebook fan page for it. We wanted to go this year but got started too late.