Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein (help·info) (also Waldstein; Czech: Albrecht Václav Eusebius z Valdštejna September 24, 1583 – February 25, 1634), a Bohemian soldier and politician, gave his services (an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men) during the Danish period (1625-1629) of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. He became the supreme commander of the armies of the Habsburg Monarchy and one of the major ...
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Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein (help·info) (also Waldstein; Czech: Albrecht Václav Eusebius z Valdštejna September 24, 1583 – February 25, 1634), a Bohemian soldier and politician, gave his services (an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men) during the Danish period (1625-1629) of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. He became the supreme commander of the armies of the Habsburg Monarchy and one of the major figures of the Thirty Years' War.
A successful generalissimo who had made himself ruler of the lands of the Duchy of Friedland in northern Bohemia, Wallenstein found himself released from service in 1630 after Ferdinand grew wary of his ambition. Several Protestant victories over Catholic armies induced Ferdinand to recall Wallenstein, who again turned the war in favor of the Imperial cause. Dissatisfied with the emperor's treatment of him, Wallenstein considered allying with the Protestants. However, Ferdinand had the general assassinated at...
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