Treaty of Lübeck facts for kids
Cover of a print-copy. The double date (12/22 May) is due to different calendars used then: 12 May is in the Julian calendar (used by the Protestant parties at the time), and 22 May is in the Gregorian calendar (used by the Catholic parties at the time).
|
|
| Type | Peace treaty |
|---|---|
| Context | Thirty Years' War |
| Signed | 22 May and 7 June 1629 |
| Location | Lübeck |
| Signatories | |
| Parties | |
| Language | German |
The Treaty of Lübeck was a very important agreement. It officially ended Denmark's involvement in a big war called the Thirty Years' War. This war was also known as the "Emperor's War" in some places.
The treaty was signed in Lübeck, a city in Germany. It was signed on May 22, 1629, by Albrecht von Wallenstein and Christian IV of Denmark. Later, on June 7, Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor also signed it. The agreement gave Denmark and Norway back all their lands they had before the war. But in return, Denmark had to promise to stop getting involved in the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire.
Contents
Why the Treaty of Lübeck Was Needed
The Treaty of Lübeck brought an end to a part of the Thirty Years' War. This part was often called the "Lower Saxon War" or "Emperor's War." It had started in 1625.
At first, the Danish armies were doing well. They were led by Christian IV of Denmark and Ernst von Mansfeld. But then, in 1626, things changed. The armies of the Catholic League, led by Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly, and the Emperor's army, led by Albrecht von Wallenstein, won two major battles. These were the Battle of Dessau Bridge and the Battle of Lutter am Barenberge.
After these defeats, Mansfeld's army moved towards Silesia and Hungary. But this plan failed in 1627. Mansfeld left his army and later died from a disease.
Imperial Armies Take Control
Wallenstein and Tilly then took control of central and northern Germany. They joined their forces in the summer of 1627. In September, they invaded Holstein, which belonged to Denmark. They continued through the Jutland peninsula all the way to Limfjord.
Christian IV still controlled the western Baltic Sea and the Danish islands. But Wallenstein was given the Duchy of Mecklenburg in January 1628. This area was right across from Denmark. Wallenstein started planning to build his own navy. He wanted to use ports like Ålborg, Wismar, Rostock, and Greifswald for this.
Denmark Fights Back
Christian IV responded in 1628 with a sea-based attack. He used his fleet to land troops along the occupied coastlines. They destroyed the naval facilities in Ålborg, Wismar, and Greifswald. Wallenstein had managed to build thirteen ships in Wismar. But he couldn't use them because Swedish ships were blocking the port.
Christian then made an alliance with Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in April. Both leaders supported the city of Stralsund in its successful fight against Wallenstein in 1628. This was known as the Battle of Stralsund.
However, in August, Christian tried to get another foothold on the southern Baltic coast. This failed when he was defeated in the Battle of Wolgast. After this battle, which was the last one in the "Emperor's War," Christian was ready to talk about peace. Wallenstein was also ready to negotiate. He was worried about the new alliance between Denmark and Sweden.
Negotiations for Peace
In September 1627, Tilly and Wallenstein had already suggested peace terms. They wanted Christian to give up his important positions in the Empire. They also wanted him to give up his church lands in the Lower Saxon Circle. Plus, they demanded a lot of money for his provinces of Holstein, Schleswig, and Jutland. Christian was also asked to give up either Glückstadt or Holstein to the Emperor.
Christian's advisors thought these terms could be a starting point for talks. But Christian himself rejected them. Even though some wanted the war to continue, both sides sent people to Lübeck to negotiate in January 1629.
Different Demands
Wallenstein negotiated for the Emperor. Christian sent his own trusted people, not his usual advisors. At first, both sides had very different ideas for peace:
| Wallenstein's terms | Danish delegates' terms |
|---|---|
Christian should:
|
Ferdinand II should:
|
Christian IV's position was a bit stronger because of his military successes in 1628. But more importantly, Wallenstein was afraid of a strong alliance between Denmark and Sweden. Christian used this fear to his advantage. He met with Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in February 1629. Gustavus Adolphus suggested they invade the Empire together. But he wanted to be in charge, and he wanted more Swedish soldiers than Danish ones. Christian refused this offer.
Both Christian and Wallenstein knew they wouldn't get everything they wanted. So, they started secret talks in Güstrow, a city in Mecklenburg.
The Treaty is Signed
The treaty was agreed upon by Wallenstein and Christian on May 22, 1629. Emperor Ferdinand officially approved it on June 7. The Catholic League was also formally included in the agreement.
The treaty gave Christian back all the lands he owned before the war. In return, he had to give up his claims to church lands in Lower Saxony. He also had to end his alliances with the states in North Germany. Most importantly, he promised not to get involved in the Holy Roman Empire's affairs ever again.
Tilly had wanted Christian to pay for the Emperor's war costs, but this was not included in the treaty. Also, the treaty did not force Christian to stop supporting Frederick V, Elector Palatine, which Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria had wanted.
What Happened Next
The Treaty of Lübeck was a major turning point for Denmark–Norway. Before this, Denmark was a powerful country in Europe. After the treaty, its power became much smaller.
The new strong country in the Nordic region became Sweden. Sweden would go on to change the course of the Thirty Years' War. Their forces landed in Pomerania in 1630. Later, starting with the Torstenson War, Sweden took away Denmark's lands across the Kattegat sea.
The treaty also caused more disagreements between Christian and his advisors, the Rigsraadet. Christian argued that if his advisors had been in charge, they would have accepted the Emperor's demands for land and money at the beginning.
Emperor Ferdinand had hoped for better terms from the treaty. He was surprised and disappointed by what Wallenstein had agreed to. He had wanted Christian to pay for the war, but that was no longer an option.
Without Denmark's protection, the North German states faced a new challenge. Emperor Ferdinand had already issued the Edict of Restitution during the negotiations. This edict aimed to make northern Germany Catholic again. It also wanted to return church lands that had been taken during the Protestant Reformation.
See also
- History of Denmark
- History of Norway
- List of treaties
