The Later Thirty Years War: From the Battle of Wittstock to the Treaty of Westphalia [Hardcover]

William P. Guthrie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313324085 | ISBN-13: 978-0313324086 | Publication Date: February 28, 2003

Continuing where the author left off in Battles of the Thirty Years War, this companion volume details the military aspects of the final years of this important early modern conflict. Whereas the earlier half of the war was dominated by a few climactic battles (White Mountain, Lutter, Breitenfeld, and Nordlingen), the later period consisted of a more drawn-out struggle between more evenly matched opponents. The successful general had to conduct strategic campaigns, in which battles, sieges, maneuvers, and logistics would all play a part. Guthrie examines broad questions of strategy, leadership, armaments, organization, logistics, and war finances. Battles detailed in this volume include the Swedish victories of Wittstock, 2nd Breitenfeld, and Jankow; the French victories of Rheinfelden, Rocroi, Freiburg, and 2nd Nordlingen; as well as the anticlimactic action of Zusmarhausen. Guthrie emphasizes the unique aspects of the Thirty Years War, its place in the evolution of warfare and weapons, and the adjustment of the actual waging of war to the rise of the nascent linear system. Based on research previously unavailable in English, each campaign is recreated in detail, including orders of battle, tactics, and maps.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[G]uthrie has done a great service to students of the art of warfare in early modern Europe....Where Guthrie really shines is in his analysis of leading personalities and his battle narratives. These sections are solidly researched, exhaustive, and to a large extent previously unavailable in a single treatment, certainly so in English....[G]uthrie has made a major contribution to the English-language literature on the Thirty Years' War....The Later Thirty Years War is a profoundly useful book.”–H-NET

“Guthrie has done an amazing job of organizing and clearly presenting a huge variety of information covering the makeup, leadership, and actions of armies from throughout Europe. Scholars particularly will find valuable the tables contained in each chapter that list participating armies by regiment and the index of military units at the end of work, that allows the actions of the individual units to be traced throughout the war. The book's strength lies in its value as a reference work. It gives a clear and well-organized description of a wide variety of details regarding the military history of the Thirty Year's War....[a]n incredibly valuable work because of the enormous variety of information carefully and clearly described in the book. Scholars and students who want details regarding the armies and battles of the Thirty Year's War will find the book quite useful.”–Journal of Modern History

“[a]n immensely handy reference to military operations during final years of the long war....Well worth reading-and having-for anyone with a serious interest in the conduct of war during the early seventeenth century.”–NYMAS Review

“[i]mmensely useful for the extraordinary amount of material that it contains.”–NYMAS Newsletter

“What, seen from a distance, appears as mere pillaging, Guthrie shows to have frequently been an increasingly sophisticated waging of "stomach war." Military, the second half of the Thirty Years War may have been unspectacular, but it was hardly inconsequential.”–German Studies Review

“By offering the most detailed coverage in English of the neglected later stage of the war, the book should shift Anglophone discussion away from the great Gustavus Adolphus towards a more balanced treatment of the entire conflict.”–Journal of Military History

“The military aspects of the book are very useful not only for those interested in the history of the Thirty Years' War, but also for those curious about the history of the art of war.”–The Sixteenth Century Journal

About the Author

WILLIAM P. GUTHRIE is an independent researcher.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (February 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313324085
• ISBN-13: 978-0313324086
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,557,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Military Research, June 15, 2008

By 

D. Lindauer "G.I. Guy" (Rockville, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Later Thirty Years War: From the Battle of Wittstock to the Treaty of Westphalia (Hardcover)

This is a manifestly important book about the later Thirty Years' War: There are hundreds of books that give detailed accounts of the great battles of Breitenfeld and Luetzen, but this is the first I've encountered that gives such detailed information about later battles like Rheinfelden, 2nd Breitenfeld, and Jankau.
Although there is some discussion of the overall political situation, operational military information (including very insightful portraits of various military commanders) prevails, so that someone wanting a well-rounded and comprehensive picture of the the later war might want to augment their reading with C.V. Wedgwood's classic account or Polisensky's look at the social and economic aspects of the war and its impact.
Absolutely essential for the serious scholar studying the battles and campaigns of the later Thirty Years' War!!

0 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed by one major error, October 19, 2006

By 

Virginia E. Demarce "veasleyd" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Later Thirty Years War: From the Battle of Wittstock to the Treaty of Westphalia (Hardcover)

Overall, Guthrie's books (this one and the earlier volume on the battles up to Noerdlingen) are very helpful, particularly for the appendices listing the units participating in each battle.

This one is flawed by a major factual error in regard to the Swedish commander Johan Baner (p. 45 and subsequent pages). Baner was not a commoner. He came from the highest Swedish nobility.


Ancestors of Johan Gustafsson Baner


Generation No. 1

1. Johan Gustafsson Baner, born 23 Jun 1596 in Sweden; died 19 May 1641 in Halberstadt, Germany. He was the son of 2. Gustaf Axelsson Baner and 3. Christina Svantesdotter Sture. He married (1) Catharina Pfuell. She was born Abt. 1600, and died 1636 in Magdeburg, Germany. He married (2) Elisabeth Juliane Graefin von Erbach 1636. She was born 1600, and died 1640 in im Lager bei Saalfeld. She was the daughter of Georg III Graf von Erbach and Maria Graefin von Barby. He married (3) Johanne Markgraefin von Baden-Durlach 1640. She was born 1623, and died 1661 in Audern, Estonia. She was the daughter of Friedrich V Markgraf von Baden-Durlach and Barbara von Wuerttemberg.

Generation No. 2

2. Gustaf Axelsson Baner, born 1547; died 1600 in Linköping, Sweden (executed). He was the son of 4. Axel Nilsson Baner and 5. Margareta Pedersdotter Bielke. He married 3. Christina Svantesdotter Sture 08 Oct 1581.
3. Christina Svantesdotter Sture, born 1559; died Jan 1618/19. She was the daughter of 6. Svante Stensson Sture and 7. Maerta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud.

Children of Gustaf Baner and Christina Sture are:
i. Margareta Gustafsdotter Baner, born 1582; died 1618.
ii. Svante Gustafsson Baner, born 1583; died 1628; married (2) Ebba Grip 28 Aug 1617; born 1589; died 1666.
iii. Anna Gustafsdotter Baner, born 1585; died 1656; married Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna; born 1586; died 1656.
iv. Marta Gustafsdotter Baner, born 1586; died 1586.
v. Axel Gustafsson Baner, born 1587; died 1594.
vi. Peder Gustafsson Baner, born 1588; died 1644; married Hebbla Claesdotter Fleming 1615; born Bef. 1601.
vii. Nils Gustaffson Baner, born 1589.
viii. Daughter Baner, born Abt. 1590; died Abt. 1590.
ix. Sigrid Baner, born 1592; died 1669.
x. Marta Gustafsson Baner, born 1593; died 1638.
xi. Axel Gustaffson Baner, born 1594; died 1642; married (1) Barbara von Saletta 1624; born Bef. 1610; married (2) Ebba Abrahamsdotter Brahe 1630; born Jan 1600/01; died 1638; married (3) Carin Nilsdotter Bielke 1641; born Bef. 1627.
1 xii. Johan Gustafsson Baner, born 23 Jun 1596 in Sweden; died 19 May 1641 in Halberstadt, Germany; married (1) Catharina Pfuell; married (2) Elisabeth Juliane Graefin von Erbach 1636; married (3) Johanne Markgraefin von Baden-Durlach 1640.
xiii. Erik Gustafsson Baner, born 1597.
xiv. Carl Gustafsson Baner, born 1598; died 1632; married Christina Sigrid Bielke 1628; born 11 Nov 1603 in Sweden.


Generation No. 3

4. Axel Nilsson Baner, born Abt. 1513; died 1554. He was the son of 8. Nils Eskilsson Baner and 9. Ingeborg Laurenzdotter Tott. He married 5. Margareta Pedersdotter Bielke 1538.
5. Margareta Pedersdotter Bielke, born 1510 in Sweden; died 1557. She was the daughter of 10. Peder Turesson Bielke and 11. Karin Nilsdotter.

Children of Axel Baner and Margareta Bielke are:
i. Sten Axelsson Baner, born 1546; died 1600 in Linköping, Sweden (executed); married (1) Ingeborg Claesdotter Tott; born 1563; died 1614; married (2) Margaretha Grip 1570; born 1537; died 1586.
2 ii. Gustaf Axelsson Baner, born 1547; died 1600 in Linköping, Sweden (executed); married Christina Svantesdotter Sture 08 Oct 1581.


6. Svante Stensson Sture, born 1517; died 1567. He was the son of 12. Sten Svantesson Sture and 13. Kristina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna. He married 7. Maerta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud.
7. Maerta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, born 1520; died 1584. She was the daughter of 14. Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud and 15. Ebba Eriksdotter Vasa.

Children of Svante Sture and Maerta Leijonhufvud are:
i. Sigrid Svantesdotter Sture, born 1538; died 1600; married Ture Pedersson Bielke 1561 in 1562; born Bet. 1507 - 1514; died 1577.
ii. Magdalena Svantesdotter Sture, born 1539; died 1610; married Erik Gustaffson Stenbock 1574; born Bef. 1555.
iii. Anna Svantesdotter Sture, born 1541; died 1595; married Hogennild Bielke 1569; born 1538; died 1605.
iv. Sten Svantesson Sture, born 1542; died 1542.
v. Nils Svantesson Sture, born 1543; died 1567.
vi. Eric Svantesson Sture, born 1546; died 1567.
vii. Margaretha Svantesdotter Sture, born 1547; died 1617; married Ture Nilsson Bielke 08 Oct 1581; born 1548; died 1600 in Linköping, Sweden (executed).
viii. Gustaf Svantesson Sture, born 1548.
ix. Mauritz Svantesson Sture, born 1552; died 1592; married Anna Claesdotter Horn; born Aft. 1550.
x. Carl Svantesson Sture, born 1555; died 1591; married Carin Joensdotter; born Aft. 1555.
xi. Brita Svantesdotter Sture, born 1557.
xii. Iliana Svantesdotter Sture, born 1558.
3 xiii. Christina Svantesdotter Sture, born 1559; died Jan 1618/19; married Gustaf Axelsson Baner 08 Oct 1581.


Generation No. 4

8. Nils Eskilsson Baner, born Bef. 1493 in Djursholm, Danderyd, Stockholm, Sweden; died Abt. 1520. He married 9. Ingeborg Laurenzdotter Tott Bef. 1508.
9. Ingeborg Laurenzdotter Tott, born Bef. 1494.

Child of Nils Baner and Ingeborg Tott is:
4 i. Axel Nilsson Baner, born Abt. 1513; died 1554; married Margareta Pedersdotter Bielke 1538.


10. Peder Turesson Bielke, born Abt. 1470; died 1520. He married 11. Karin Nilsdotter 1495 in Älvsborg castle.
11. Karin Nilsdotter, born Abt. 1470; died Abt. 1520.

Children of Peder Bielke and Karin Nilsdotter are:
i. Anna Pedersdotter Bielke, born Aft. 1495; died Abt. 1551; married Ture Bengtsson Liljesparre Abt. 1522; died 1524.
ii. Agneta Pedersdotter Bielke, born Aft. 1496; married Claus Claussen Thott.
iii. Ursula Pedersdotter Bielke, born Aft. 1496.
iv. Ingegerd Pedersdotter Bielke, born Aft. 1500.
v. Ture Pedersson Bielke, born Bet. 1507 - 1514; died 1577; married Sigrid Svantesdotter Sture 1561 in 1562; born 1538; died 1600.
5 vi. Margareta Pedersdotter Bielke, born 1510 in Sweden; died 1557; married Axel Nilsson Baner 1538.
vii. Nils Pedersson Bielke, born Bef. 1520; married Anna Clementsdotter Hogenskild; born Bef. 1524.


12. Sten Svantesson Sture, born 1492; died 1520 in (died of wounds after battle, body dug up and burned by the Danish king). He was the son of 24. Svante Nilsson and 25. Iliana Erengislesdotter Gadda. He married 13. Kristina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna 1511.
13. Kristina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna, born 1494; died 1559.

Children of Sten Sture and Kristina Gyllenstierna are:
6 i. Svante Stensson Sture, born 1517; died 1567; married Maerta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud.
ii. Nils Stensson Sture, born Bef. 1520.


14. Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud, born 1471; died 1520. He married 15. Ebba Eriksdotter Vasa 1512.
15. Ebba Eriksdotter Vasa, born Abt. 1490; died 1549. She was the daughter of 30. Erik Vasa and 31. Anna Karlsdotter.

Children of Erik Leijonhufvud and Ebba Vasa are:
i. Birgitta Leijonhufvud, born 1514; married Gustav Olafsson Stenbock; born 1504.
ii. Margaretha Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, born 1516; died 1551; married Gustav Eriksson Vasa King of Sweden Abt. 1536; born Bet. 1496 - 1497 in Rydboholm, Sweden; died 1560.
iii. Anna Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, born 1517; died 1540; married Axel Eriksson Bielke; born Abt. 1500; died 1559.
iv. Sten Eriksson Leijonhufvud, greve Lewenhaupt, born 1518; died 1568; married Ebba Mansdotter Liliehoeoek 1548; born 1519; died 1609.
7 v. Maerta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, born 1520; died 1584; married Svante Stensson Sture.
vi. Abraham Eriksson Leijonhufvud, born Bet. 1512 - 1513; died 1556; married Anna Tott; born Bef. 1535; died 1552.


Generation No. 5

24. Svante Nilsson, born 1458; died Bet. 1511 - 1512. He was the son of 48. Nils Sture Natt och Dag. He married 25. Iliana Erengislesdotter Gadda.
25. Iliana Erengislesdotter Gadda, born Abt. 1468; died 1495.

Child of Svante Nilsson and Iliana Gadda is:
12 i. Sten Svantesson Sture, born 1492; died 1520 in (died of wounds after battle, body dug up and burned by the Danish king); married Kristina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna 1511.


30. Erik Vasa, born Bef. 1440; died 1491. He was the son of 60. Karl Vasa and 61. Ebba Krummedige. He married 31. Anna Karlsdotter 1488.
31. Anna Karlsdotter, born Bef. 1474; died 1522.

Child of Erik Vasa and Anna Karlsdotter is:
15 i. Ebba Eriksdotter Vasa, born Abt. 1490; died 1549; married Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud 1512.


Generation No. 6

48. Nils Sture Natt och Dag, born Bef. 1438.

Child of Nils Sture Natt och Dag is:
24 i. Svante Nilsson, born 1458; died Bet. 1511 - 1512; married Iliana Erengislesdotter Gadda.


60. Karl Vasa, born Bef. 1420; died 1440. He married 61. Ebba Krummedige.
61. Ebba Krummedige, born Bef. 1426; died 1483.

Child of Karl Vasa and Ebba Krummedige is:
30 i. Erik Vasa, born Bef. 1440; died 1491; married Anna Karlsdotter 1488.