PETER WILSON is the Grant Professor of History at the University of Hull, UK. He is author of War, State and Society in Württemberg, The Holy Roman Empire 1495-1806, From Reich to Revolution 1558-1806 and Europe's Tragedy: A History of the Thirty Years War.

'This book is a superb and unique means of introducing newcomers to the political and military events that shaped the course of the war. It is the rare example of a user-friendly, single-volume edition of primary sources that covers all aspects of one of the most important and protracted wars in early modern Europe.' - Michael Schaich, Research Fellow and Head Librarian, German Historical Institute, London

• List of Maps and FiguresChronologyIntroductionPolitical and Religious Tension in the Empire after 1555Confessional Polarisation? Protestant Union and Catholic LeagueCrisis in the Habsburg MonarchyThe Bohemian Revolt and its AftermathSpain and the NetherlandsThe War in Western and Northern Germany 1621-9The Catholic AscendancyThe Edict of RestitutionSwedish InterventionThe Destruction of Magdeburg, 1631Sweden's Search for Security and Reward, 1631-5Wallenstein's Second Generalship 1632-4The Peace of Prague, 1635War and Politics, 1635-40Military Organisation and the War EconomyExperiencePeace Making 1641-8The Peace of WestphaliaPeace Implementation, Celebration and CommemorationGuide to Further ReadingIndex.