Albrecht von Wallenstein

Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein or Waldstein (in Czech Albrecht Václav Eusebius Z Valdštejna ), born the September 24th 1583 and dead the February 25th 1634, is a man of war of the Czech nobility, which was most famous Condottiere with the service of the Empire during the Guerre Thirty Year old, become généralissime of the imperial armies, duke of Friedland and Mecklembourg.

Youth and family

Resulting from one of the richest Protestant families of Bohemia, receiving a severe and austere education, it is orphan at the 12 years age. It is dealt with by his maternal uncle, the Margrave of Burgau, wire junior by the archduke Ferdinand of the Tyrol. This last shows him the extent of the catholic culture which allures it, and it converts without however becoming really a good believing.

He marries in 1609 Lucrecia Nekšová Z Landek, heiress of the lords of Vsetín which brings to him in dowry the contiguous castle and fields.

Liking Italian refinement, art, amongst other things the Architecture and the Sculpture, it is done built splendid the Palais Wallenstein in Malá Strana with Prague. Set on Astrology at the point to depend on it in the field of the forecast, he is however a genious business man. He has under his vassal orders 300 and has the quarter of the territory of Bohemia. In the territory of Friedland, it forces admiration by rectifying the economy. Italian craftsmen, arms manufacturers, and well from others come to enrich this ground which becomes coveted.

Military career

After having financed a regiment for the future emperor Ferdinand II, Wallenstein sees larger and decides to create an army for the emperor in 1623. Its army, strong from 15.000 infantrymen and 6.000 riders initially gradually will increase to approach the 50.000 men. It impresses by its size more than by quality of its soldiers. Indeed, considering the weakness of the pay and its irregularity, it did not attract the best soldiers.

This army is expensive to him in spite of the dividends which it knew to draw from its grounds. To avoid the dissolution of its army, it urges this one in the duchy of Brunswick in July 1625. Its hope is to preserve its rich person grounds by making spoils in the enemy territories to finance its army. It is a manager more than one soldier. In spite of some blows of glares during the War Thirty Year old (1618 - 1648), it made the error, at the end of its life, to withdraw itself in Bohemia, corroded by uncertainty and the superstitions, accompanied doctors and astrologers. Consequently it carried out a play ambiguous, negotiating with all the belligerents, Swede, Saxons, French. Its goals remain obscure: to be made elect king de Bohême? To restore peace? Always it is that it is insulated more and more. He is dislocated of his functions to the head of the army the January 24th 1634. The February 25th 1634, it is assassinated with Eger by officers carried out by Walters Leslie and charged stopping it with.

In spite of its errors, he is the true founder of the Austrian army. He financed his military operations by the system of the contributions of war. However its policy, incompatible with Germanic freedoms, caused in the Empire of hatreds mortals which led it to its loss.

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