The Jesuits and the Thirty Years War: Kings, Courts, and Confessors

Description

From 1618 to 1648 Christian princes waged the first pan-European war. Brought about in part by the entrenched passions of the Reformation and Counter Reformation, the Thirty Years War inevitably drew in the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, who stood at the vanguard of Catholic reform. This book investigates the Jesuits' role during the war at the four Catholic courts of Vienna, Munich, Paris and Madrid and the challenge to the Jesuit superior general in Rome to lead a truly international organisation through a period of rising international conflict. War goals varied and changed at the courts as the conflict progressed. Advocates of 'holy war' contended with moderates, or politiques. This book brings to light the extent to which the Thirty Years War was a religious war and it shows how ideas about the proper relationship between religion and politics shifted under the pressure of events.

"...admirable...the work is undoubtedly an impressive achievement." European History Quarterly "Bireley's study represents a major achievement. By providing a comprehensive, collective treatment to those supranational agents, the Jesuits, he has taken a hitherto neglected dimension for the study of the Thirty Years War and given it sustained, meaningful analysis and significant clarification for the period of Europe'sgestation and crisis." John M. Headley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "In a tour de force of scholarship, Professor Bireley dispels the hoary myth of the Jesuits as a monolithic power behind the thrones of Europe's Catholic monarchs. His painstaking reconstruction of their activities in Madrid, Paris, Rome, Munich and Vienna demonstrates the considerable variations in both political intent and influence, not only between these great power centers, but also withing them. It also provides scholars with an invaluable trove of information about the great power diplomacy of the Thirty Years War." Charles Ingrao, Purdue University "Bireley brings a fresh perspective to the study of the Thirty Years' War." H-FRANCE "Jesuit confessors at the major courts of Catholic Europe during the Thirty Years War regularly corresponding with the Father General in Rome? This looks like a conspiracy. But instead the fascinating story that this magisterial book from the leading expert in the field reconstructs, after years of research in the archives of Europe, turns out to be one of conflicting personalities and loyalties-some promoting holy war, others intriguing for peace, and a Father General continuously arguing for more political restraint." Wolfgang Reinhard, Albert-Ludwigs- Universit"at Freiburg "Birely's research is wide-ranging and meticulous, his narrative satisfying in its detail and his unique study will be of great value to research collections in history." Catholic Library World "...this book is an outstanding synthesis of Bireley's historical interests." Central European History "Bireley makes a valuable contribution to the diplomatic history of the Thirty Years War, and to the history of Catholic engagement with politics...All historians interested in religion and politics in the early modern era will find this book fascinating." - Canadian Journal of History, Erik Thomson, The University of Toronto "...a work that will be consulted in the years to come as a definitive account on the subject, one that will be repeatedly referenced when new studies come out about the Jesuits and other religious orders in other areas of Europe. It is extremely well written and succinct." - The Journal of Religion, James R. Palmitessa, Western Michigan University