Before I start out with the campaign report, I'd like to write a semi-brief introduction to the campaign I'm currently running with a friend. For now, it's a two player campaign fought with miniatures I've collected so far (which are basically painted as TYW swedes), so a little bit of imagination is needed especially when it comes to banners.
The campaign is set during the Bohemian phase of the Thirty Years War and will be fought between the bohemians and the imperials. I'll be using Warlord Games' Pike & Shotte ruleset and adapting the mercenary captain campaign system from "The Devil's Playground" supplement for the campaign. The basic idea is that the progress of the war can't be changed, but the forces represent smaller skirmishes that weren't so significant to be documented at the time except as footnotes.
The Thirty Years War was a major war in Europe that began as a protest for religious freedom and quickly regressed into a prolonged conflict between different aristocratic families that struggled for power within the Holy Roman Empire. It was a war both between protestants and catholics, but also a war between the Hapsburg family and their opponents. Mostly though it was war between professional mercenary armies that devastated the area they were then occupying. If you saw an army coming, the best thing was to grab your family and your valuables and run as far as you can. It certainly was not a good time to be a peasant.
Things were set in motion, when the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias was aged without a direct heir and he named his cousin Ferdinand as next in line for successor of the title. Matthias, although catholic, had been somewhat lenient towards protestantism, but Ferdinand was a staunch catholic. What made things worse was that Ferdinand was also heir to the throne of Bohemia, which was largely protestant and had decided to enforce the old rule where the religion of the king determined the religion of his subjects.
Ferdinand in preparation for the change of power sent a delegation of Catholic Lords Regent to Prague in May 1618 and he had strong plans to suppress the rights of protestants to practice their religion. This did not sit well with the protestants and lead by Count Thurn, they chucked half the delegation out of the third story window in an established Czech tradition called the "Defenestration". By a sheer miracle the three men survived the 21 m fall. Catholics claimed that they were saved by angels, the protestants claimed that they were saved by a conveniently placed dung heap.
A woodcut by Johann Philipp Abelinus depicting the event
This naturally was an open rebellion against Ferdinand and the Holy Roman Empire and the rebellion spread to the whole of Bohemia, excepting the cities of Krummau, Pilsen and Budweis. They decided to support Frederick V of the Palatinate region instead as their ruler, as Frederick promised support from his cousin King James I of England.
Neighboring Moravia decided at this point remain loyal to the emperor.
Emperor Matthias at this stage was old and befuddled and the day-to-day reigning was done by his chief minister Cardinal Khlesi, who was an opponent of Ferdinand. Ferdinand got rid of Khlesi and Matthias was rendered powerless. This meant that Ferdinand was then more or less de facto emperor (see here for more detailed history).
The bohemians had two major forces: one lead by Count Thurn and the other by Ernst von Mansfeldt. The imperial forces were lead by Count Bucquoy and later supplemented by Count Tilly of the Catholic League. Moravia also raised an army lead by Wallenstein at this point.
The stage was set and the players were chosen.
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