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When we left off last time, most of Europe was at peace, but the entire continent, nearly every nation, was on the cusp of war.

It was a conflict that would shape Europe for centuries to come, literally. This war would shake the old pillars of religion, of

social order, of empire, of their class structure, and the very idea of monarchy

itself. It was a war that would impact everybody in Europe from the halls of power to the lowliest commoner.

Really, as Europe was poised to embark on the greatest era of imperialism in history, this was a war that

would impact everybody in the world if indirectly.

This is episode number 25, pit stop on the continent, part 2.

We left off with the defeat of the Protestant-led Bohemian revolt by a coalition of Catholic forces from all around Europe.

This coalition, with the enthusiastic backing of the Pope, was called the German Catholic League.

The League included most of the Catholic Lords of the Holy Roman Empire

under Emperor Ferdinand II, who was allied with Philip the 3rd of Spain. Not only Allied, but closely related.

Both Philip the Third and Ferdinand the Second

...