Why was the Thirty Years War fought?

The Thirty Years War is a series of wars fought among 1618 to1648 for reasons that range from religious to territorial. It devastated most of atomic number 63 especially Germany and ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. It began with the resistance of Protestant nobles in Bohemia against the Hapsburgs, the family which headed the Holy Roman Empire. Since its beginning, political affiliations among states played a role in the causes and the outcomes of the series of wars. When the war started, the German Protestants allied with Austria.They were defeated by another alliance, that of Brussel and Spain, which was sent by King Ferdinand II. In 1625, Denmark regenerate the war simply was defeated by General Wallensteins army, also sent by Ferdinand. Wallenstein was a Bohemian, but who sided with the Roman Empire in return for the spoils of war. The final phases of the war were initiated by Denmark, Sweden and France, all of whom were led to the frill in concern with the increas ing Hapsburg power in their territories.The Peace of Westphalia, two treaties which ended the war, returned the German states which were seized by the Holy Roman Empire in the duration of the war to their former rulers. It also allowed them to practice and postulate their religions. Countries like Switzerland and Netherland were granted independence. The treaty introduced religious tolerance and ended religious warfare. Matters could have been resolved to begin with during the conflict, avoiding the death and destruction that it inflicted upon the affected countries has the Holy Roman Empire been not driven by emulation and greed for more land.The reason why states waged the wars against the empire was their fear of the increasing power of the Hapsburg over Europe threatening their very borders. King Ferdinand could have also appeased the Protestants within Germany that he would leave them alone, way to begin with the war expanded outside Germany.ReferenceThe Columbia Encyclopia , (2001) Sixth Edition, 2001-2007. Columbia University Press. Retrieved on May 21, 2008. http//www. bartleby. com/65/th/ThirtyYe. html.