Thanks for your support on Patreon, Steve Cloudier.

Steve was present in Captain Monroe's regiment during the Battle of Brightonfeld,

and fortunately he helped hold the line and keep it altogether,

even while the Saxons fled the battle.

Thanks for that, Steve.

This, of course, is all a lie, but if you would like me to lie about you, you know where to go.

Head on over to patreon.com forward slash when diplomacy fails, where you can support this show

and get great shoutouts like these.

More on that later, but for now, enjoy the episode 55 of the 30 Years' War. In the last episode

we prepared the ground for arguably the most important battle of the 30 years

war, examining in the process how the political situation in the Holy Roman Empire changed

so that Gustavus Adolphus managed by autumn 1631 to have both Protestant electors on his side.

This was a vital development for reasons of propaganda as well as strategy, because it meant

that the Swedish king could pose as the savior of German liberties and as the defender of

the faith, while not having to fear attack from either Brandenburg or Saxony at the same time.

Of course, as we noted, the motives which compelled both electors to

join Gustavus's side were varied indeed, and did not necessarily suggest that a great corner

had been turned, whereby these figures would be henceforth finished with their emperor.

Gustavus did not trust them completely, and he was wise not to, but he did anticipate that

the contribution of the Saxon elector in particular, with his 18,000 recruits, could alter

the balance of power.

Adding these men to his army of some 24,000, Gustavus felt confident to march at the head

...