What is the thirty years war?

Find out more about the history of Thirty Years' War, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com. read more

The Thirty Years' War was a war fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648. One of the longest and most destructive conflicts in human history, it resulted in eight million fatalities not only from military engagements but also from violence, famine and plague. read more

The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) began when Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II of Bohemia attempted to curtail the religious activities of his subjects, sparking rebellion among Protestants. The war came to involve the major powers of Europe, with Sweden, France, Spain and Austria all waging campaigns primarily on German soil. read more

A brief treatment of the Thirty Years’ War follows. For full treatment, see Europe, history of: The Thirty Years’ War. read more