Heilbronn League
Encyclopedia
The Heilbronn League was an alliance between Sweden
, France
, and the Protestant princes of Western Germany against the Catholic League
during the Thirty Years' War
. The treaty forming the League was signed at Heilbronn
in Germany
on April 23, 1633.
After the death of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, a greater number of German states were desperate to achieve peace. Nevertheless, Wallenstein's continuous military activity, as well as the diplomatic work carried out by Axel Oxenstierna
, Sweden’s first minister, failed to bring about a permanent settlement. Most significantly, the search for a peace that would privilege all of those who signed it ensured the continuance of the war.
It was essential that France took on the role of the leader, and provide patronage to their German allies. Together they formed the Heilbronn League, which consisted of the Upper and Lower Rhenish, Swabia
n and Franconia
n military circles. Each of the circles was required to provide 2.5 million Reichstaler annually, while the Swedes retained their position as overall military commanders. France also agreed to increase the revenue that it would supply, as the death of Gustavus had caused France to have a greater influence on the military situation overall.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the Protestant princes of Western Germany against the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. The treaty forming the League was signed at Heilbronn
Heilbronn
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on April 23, 1633.
After the death of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, a greater number of German states were desperate to achieve peace. Nevertheless, Wallenstein's continuous military activity, as well as the diplomatic work carried out by Axel Oxenstierna
Axel Oxenstierna
Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre , Count of Södermöre, was a Swedish statesman. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a confidant of first Gustavus Adolphus and then Queen Christina.Oxenstierna...
, Sweden’s first minister, failed to bring about a permanent settlement. Most significantly, the search for a peace that would privilege all of those who signed it ensured the continuance of the war.
It was essential that France took on the role of the leader, and provide patronage to their German allies. Together they formed the Heilbronn League, which consisted of the Upper and Lower Rhenish, Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n and Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
n military circles. Each of the circles was required to provide 2.5 million Reichstaler annually, while the Swedes retained their position as overall military commanders. France also agreed to increase the revenue that it would supply, as the death of Gustavus had caused France to have a greater influence on the military situation overall.