The Schmalkaldic War (German: Schmalkaldischer Krieg; July 1546 – May 1547) was fought within the territories of the Holy Roman Empire between the allied forces of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Maurice, Duke of Saxony against the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League, with the forces directly loyal to Charles fighting…
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Why it matteredThis struggle between the Holy Roman Empire and Protestant princes temporarily checked the spread of Lutheranism across central Europe.
Quick facts
- DateJuly 1546 – May 1547
- LocationHoly Roman Empire (southern Germany and Saxony)
- Imperial sideCharles V, Maurice of Saxony, Duke of Alba
- Protestant sideSchmalkaldic League: John Frederick I of Saxony, Philip I of Hesse
- Decisive battleMühlberg, 24 April 1547
- OutcomeImperial victory; League dissolved
- Part ofEuropean Wars of Religion
Editor's Take:
The Schmalkaldic War is a lesson in winning a battle and losing the argument. Charles V crushed the Protestant princes at Mühlberg, yet within eight years he had to accept that Lutheranism was here to stay. The man who betrayed the League, Maurice of Saxony, later betrayed the Emperor too. The settlement that followed, letting each ruler choose his realm's faith, shaped the map of religion in Germany for centuries.
Profile
The Schmalkaldic War: Emperor Against the Protestants
Holy Roman Empire, 1546–1547
In 1531, Lutheran princes and cities met in the small town of Schmalkalden and formed a defensive alliance, the Schmalkaldic League. Its leaders were John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.
For fifteen years, wars with France and the Ottoman Empire kept Emperor Charles V from dealing with them. By 1546, with peace on those fronts and Martin Luther dead since February, Charles was ready to restore religious unity by force.
His masterstroke was political. He won over Maurice of Saxony, a Lutheran duke and John Frederick's own cousin, with the promise of his cousin's lands and electoral title. When Maurice invaded Electoral Saxony, the League's armies were split.
The war was decided on 24 April 1547 at the Battle of Mühlberg. Imperial troops under Charles and the Duke of Alba crossed the River Elbe and routed the Saxon army. John Frederick was captured, wounded in the face. Philip of Hesse surrendered weeks later. Both spent years as prisoners.
Timeline
- 1517Luther's 95 Theses: the Reformation begins
- 1531League formed: at Schmalkalden
- Feb 1546Luther dies: in Eisleben
- Jul 1546War begins: League and Emperor mobilise
- Late 1546Maurice invades Saxony: the League is divided
- 24 Apr 1547Battle of Mühlberg: John Frederick captured
- 1548Augsburg Interim: a temporary religious settlement
- 1555Peace of Augsburg: Lutheranism recognised
Did you know?When Charles entered Wittenberg after his victory, a famous story says he was urged to dig up Luther's body and refused, saying he made war on the living, not the dead.
Why the war began
The Reformation had split the Empire. Protestant princes seized church property and refused to accept the authority of the Pope or the planned Council of Trent.
Charles saw himself as the defender of one Catholic Christendom. To him, the League was both heresy and rebellion against the Emperor.
How Charles won
The League had money and men but no clear plan. Its armies hesitated in the Danube campaign of 1546, and when Maurice attacked Saxony they broke up to defend home.
At Mühlberg, Spanish soldiers swam the Elbe and found a ford in the morning fog. The surprise was complete. Titian later painted Charles in armour on horseback to celebrate the day, one of the most famous royal portraits ever made.
A victory that did not last
Charles imposed the Augsburg Interim in 1548, a compromise that pleased almost no one. In 1552 Maurice turned against him, nearly capturing the Emperor at Innsbruck.
The result was the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, which allowed each prince to choose Lutheranism or Catholicism for his lands. A worn-out Charles abdicated the following year.
The 481st anniversary falls on July 10, 2027.
