Battle of White Mountain

Battle ending Bohemian phase of Thirty Years' War (1620)

The Battle of White Mountain happened in 1620 and was the first battle of the Thirty Years' War. It had Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria defeat the forces of Frederick V, Elector of Palantine, King of Bohemia and Moravia.[1]

The monument at White Mountain, Prague

The cause of the battle was a revolt by a group of Czech lords who threw two governors and a secretary out of the windows of Prague Castle.[2] The incident is known as the Defenestration of Prague. The rebels quickly built up an army of 30,000 to make an independent Protestant country. The Czechs were defeated by a well-trained Imperial army after a battle lasting less than one hour. Emperor Ferdinand II replaced Frederick as King of Bohemia and then killed many who had opposed him. Others were given a choice to convert to Catholicism or to leave the country.[2]

White Mountain is now in the city of Prague. There is an open space and monument.[2]

References

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  1. "White Mountain, Battle of the". Chambers Dictionary of World History. 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Battle of White Mountain". private-prague-guide.com. 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.