Ferdinand II Biography

The Catholic League is initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states to counteract the Protestant Union (formed 1608), whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire"

This record states: Elector of the Palatinate (successor of Frederick IV, the creator of the Protestant Union), however, other Protestants support the stance taken by the Catholics and in 1617.

This record states: Ferdinand is duly elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias.

This record states: Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights granted to them by Emperor Rudolf II in his Letter of Majesty (1609) and prefer the Protestant Frederick V.

This record states: The next King of Bohemia.

This record states: Elector of the Palatinate (successor of Frederick IV, the creator of the Protestant Union), however, other Protestants support the stance taken by the Catholics and in 1617.

This record states: Ferdinand is duly elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias.

This record states: Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights granted to them by Emperor Rudolf II in his Letter of Majesty (1609) and prefer the Protestant Frederick V.

This record states: The next King of Bohemia.

Ferdinand is elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias, the next King of Bohemia

This record states: Elector of the Palatinate (successor of Frederick IV, the creator of the Protestant Union), however, other Protestants support the stance taken by the Catholics and in 1617.

This record states: Ferdinand is duly elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias.

This record states: Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights granted to them by Emperor Rudolf II in his Letter of Majesty (1609) and prefer the Protestant Frederick V.

This record states: The next King of Bohemia.

Succeeds as King of Bohemia, 1st reign

Ferdinand is elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias, the next King of Bohemia

This record states: Elector of the Palatinate (successor of Frederick IV, the creator of the Protestant Union), however, other Protestants support the stance taken by the Catholics and in 1617.

This record states: Ferdinand is duly elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias.

This record states: Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights granted to them by Emperor Rudolf II in his Letter of Majesty (1609) and prefer the Protestant Frederick V.

This record states: The next King of Bohemia.

An uprising of the Bohemian estates against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty caused by religious and power disputes culminating after several battles in the final Battle of White Mountain, where the estates suffer a decisive defeat and started re-catholisation of the Czech lands and starting the Thirty Years War

Protestants support the stance taken by the Catholics and in 1617, Ferdinand is duly elected by the Bohemian Estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias, the next King of Bohemia.

Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights granted to them by Emperor Rudolf II in his Letter of Majesty (1609) and prefer the Protestant Frederick V, elector of the Palatinate (successor of Frederick IV, the creator of the Protestant Union), however, other

The death of Emperor Matthias emboldens the rebellious Protestant leaders, who had been on the verge of a settlement and the weaknesses of both Ferdinand (now officially on the throne after the death of Emperor Matthias) and of the Bohemians themselves led to the spread of the war to western Germany and Ferdinand is compelled to call on his nephew, King Philip IV of Spain, for assistance.

All three men survived despite being injured, and the Second Defenestration of Prague began the Bohemian Revolt.

Ferdinand II sent the Catholic councillors Vilem Slavata of Chlum and Jaroslav Borzita of Martinice to administer the government at Hradcany Castle in his absence.

On 23 May, Protestant nobles seized the councillors and secretary Philip Fabricius and threw them from a palace window about 21 metres above the ground.

The defenestration, known as the Second Defenestration of Prague, starts the Bohemian Revolt. Sends two Catholic councillors (Wilhelm Grav Slavata and Jaroslav Borzita Graf Von Martinicz) as his representatives to Hradcany castle, the Bohemian Calvinists throw them out of the window

The defenestration, known as the Second Defenestration of Prague, starts the Bohemian Revolt

The Bohemian conflict spreads through all of the Bohemian Crown, including Bohemia, Silesia, Upper and Lower Lusatia, and Moravia, Moravia was already embroiled in a conflict between Catholics and Protestants, the religious conflict eventually spreads across the whole continent of Europe, involving France and Sweden

The King-elect sent two Catholic councillors (Vilem Slavata of Chlum and Jaroslav Borzita of Martinice) as his representatives to Hradcany castle in Prague, Ferdinand wanted them to administer the Government in his absence but on 23 May, an assembly of Protestants seize them and throw

them (and also secretary Philip Fabricius) out of the palace window, some 21 metres (69 ft) off the ground, remarkably, although injured, they survive but the (Second) Defenestration of Prague, starts the Bohemian Revolt.

Deposed by the Protestant Diet of Bohemia

After the death of Matthias Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia the Kingdom deprived his successor Ferdinand II in 1618 of the Bohemian crown and elected Frederick V Elector Palatine as King

Ferdinand II's devout Catholicism causes turmoil in his non-Catholic subjects especially in Bohemia where he does not wish to uphold the religious liberties granted by the Letter of Majesty conceded signed by the previous Emperor Rudolf II

Ferdinand confers with the spiritual electors at Frankfurt asking for the support of the League

which had guaranteed the freedom of religion to the nobles and the inhabitants of the cities.

The Hussite Bohemians prefer the Protestant Frederick V, elector of the Palatinate, successor of Frederick IV, creator of the League of Evangelical Union. Death of Mathias, Matthias Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Bohemia, dies without descendants his lands go to his nearest male relative, his cousin Ferdinand of Styria

Ferdinand IIs devout Catholicism causes turmoil in his non-Catholic subjects, especially in Bohemia where he does not wish to uphold the religious liberties granted by the Letter of Majesty conceded, signed by the previous Emperor, Rudolph II, which had guaranteed the freedom of religion to the nobles and the inhabitants of the cities

The Bohemians, desperate for allies against the Emperor, apply to be admitted into the Protestant Union which was led by their original candidate for the Bohemian throne, the Calvinist Frederick V, Elector Palatine. Ferdinand wants to restore Catholicism to his lands making him highly unpopular in the primarily Hussite Bohemia & provoking the Thirty Years War

Ferdinand IIs devout Catholicism causes turmoil in his non-Catholic subjects, especially in Bohemia where he does not wish to uphold the religious liberties granted by the Letter of Majesty conceded, signed by the previous Emperor, Rudolph II, which had guaranteed the freedom of religion to the nobles and the inhabitants of the cities

The Bohemians, desperate for allies against the Emperor, apply to be admitted into the Protestant Union which was led by their original candidate for the Bohemian throne, the Calvinist Frederick V, Elector Palatine

Count Bucquoy, commander of the Imperial army, defeats the forces the Protestant Union led by Count Mansfeld at Sablat cutting off Count Thurns from Prague & forcing him to abandon Vienna

Count Bucquoy, commander of the Imperial army, defeats the forces the Protestant Union led by Count Mansfeld at Sablat cutting off Count Thurns from Prague & forcing him to abandon Vienna

Ferdinand is officially deposed as King of Bohemia and is replaced by the Palatine Elector Frederick V

The Estates of Bohemia, Lusatia, Moravia and Silesia declare Ferdinand deposed as their King

The Estates of Bohemia, Lusatia, Moravia and Silesia declare Ferdinand deposed as their King

The Estates of Bohemia, Lusatia, Moravia and Silesia declare Ferdinand deposed as their King

The Estates of Bohemia, Lusatia, Moravia and Silesia declare Ferdinand deposed as their King

Succeeds as King of Bohemia, 2nd reign

Overthrows Frederick V to regain the throne & drive Protestantism out of Bohemia. Fights alongside the Catholic League & Spain against the Protestants

The Catholic Leagues army pacified Upper Austria, while Imperial forces under Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, pacified Lower Austria, the two armies united and moved north into Bohemia where Ferdinand II decisively defeated Frederick V at the Battle of White Mountain, near Prague, on 8 November 1620 and in addition to becoming Catholic, Bohemia would remain in Habsburg hands for nearly three hundred years

The Catholic Leagues army pacified Upper Austria, while Imperial forces under Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, pacified Lower Austria, the two armies united and moved north into Bohemia where Ferdinand II decisively defeated Frederick V at the Battle of White Mountain, near Prague, on 8 November 1620 and in addition to becoming Catholic, Bohemia would remain in Habsburg hands for nearly three hundred years

Fights alongside the Catholic League & Spain against the Protestants

Overthrows Frederick V to regain the throne & drive Protestantism out of Bohemia

Restores Protestantism in Bohemia after victory at the Battle of Main

The Catholic Leagues army pacified Upper Austria, while Imperial forces under Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, pacified Lower Austria, the two armies united and moved north into Bohemia where Ferdinand II decisively defeated Frederick V at the Battle of White Mountain, near Prague, on 8 November 1620 and in addition to becoming Catholic, Bohemia would remain in Habsburg hands for nearly three hundred years