1620 White Mountain 4

Today is November 8, and on this date in history, in 1620, we witness the Battle of White Mountain (Bílá hora in Czech and Weisserburg in German) near Prague in the now Czech Repblic. This is the first large battle of the Thirty Years War and one of the decisive battles of history.

The imperial forces (Hapsburg Holy Roman Empire) defeated the armies of Frederick, the Winter King of Bohemia, and re-established imperial control in Central Europe. The Swedes and others would rampage in the area, but imperial control never was placed in real danger. The significance for Europe was that the Holy Roman Empire was able to stand against and finally overthrow the Mohammedan Turks who had harassed Europe since the Fourteenth Century. Had the control over Bohemia, Austria and Royal Hungary fragmented, perhaps Notre Dame in Paris would now be a mosque.

It is interesting that the youngest daughter of Frederick, the Winter King, was Sophia, Electress of Hanover. She was to be queen of England upon the death of Anne, but she died just before Anne. Her son, George I, ascended the throne. Sophia is the direct ancestor of the present Queen of England.