Ernst Von Mansfeld Thirty Years

Thirty Years state of war Ernst von Mansfeld Ernst von Mansfeld was a German military commander in the Thirty Years War. Although he fought for the Protestant cause, Mansfeld was a Roman Catholic. He was considered one of the most tremendous opponent of the Catholic League. He was born in 1580 as the illicit son of Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort and Dorothea von Solms- Lich. In 1594 he served under Archduke Leopold. Then, in 1610 he Joined Frederick V and the Protestant Union. At the age 36 he direct his first regiment of 2000 men.He fought for the Protestant Union until he died from illness in November, 1626. In the capital of Italy Phase of the Thirty Years War Mansfeld led an army of 2000 men, raised by the Duke of Savoy, to aid the Bohemian rebels. He successfully siege the Bohemian city of Pilsen in 1618. Mansfeld was discomfited in the combat of Sablat after being inactive for a while. At the Battle of White Mountain Masfeld and his forces were defeated, and in shor tly after forced to deliver Pilsen to the Catholics. Toward the end of the Bohemian Phase King Frederick V selected Mansfeld to lead is Bohemian military man.Following this he undertook Fredericks position in Upper Palatinate. He then travel into Rhenish Palatinate. This allowed Mansfeld to successfully defend against Johann Tserclaes, the Count of Tillys attack at passing Bohemian rebel regiments. He also was defeated by Tilly twice. Mansfelds troops were very destructive, not only to the lands of his enemy, but to the lands he was supposed to defend. During the palatalized Phase of the Thirty Years War Mansfeld raised another of Frederick Vs armies in an perspiration to recover Palastine.The effort was a failure, because he was once again defeated by Tilly. Then Mansfeld was given an army of 12,000 men by jam I of England. These troops were sent into the Dutch city of Breda as an attempt of remainder for the Siege of Breda, but the troops were not permitted set rear end on land, and Breda fell in 1625. Mansfeld led the remainder of his army to Dutch lands, where they were once again defeated by Habsburg forces. Mansfeld continued to fght. He led his forces to Bergen-op-Zoom, a Dutch city seiged by the Spainish in 1622. This led to the relief of the city.Mansfeld spent 1624 and 1625 raising an anti-Habsburg army. He led this coalition in a march on Bohemia in 1626, but in a repeal of events Mansfeld was forced to turn to Hungary. He intended on stoping to his ascendant after being defeated by Tilly once again. On his return home Mansfeld fell ill, and on November 29, 1626 he died in Bosnia. Mansfeld was a wide force to be reckoned with during Thirty years War. The Protestant Union can apply much ot their success during the early phases ot the war. He was remarkable because he fought for the Protestant cause while remaining a faithful Catholic.