Battle of White Mountain

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The monument at White Mountain, Prague

The Battle of White Mountain happened in 1620 and was the first battle of the Thirty Years' War. It had Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria defeat the forces of Frederick V, Elector of Palantine, King of Bohemia and Moravia.[1]

The cause of the battle was a revolt by a group of Czech lords who threw two governors and a secretary out of the windows of Prague Castle.[2] The incident is known as the Defenestration of Prague. The rebels quickly built up an army of 30,000 to make an independent Protestant country. The Czechs were defeated by a well-trained Imperial army after a battle lasting less than one hour. Emperor Ferdinand II replaced Frederick as King of Bohemia and then killed many who had opposed him. Others were given a choice to convert to Catholicism or to leave the country.[2]

White Mountain is now in the city of Prague. There is an open space and monument.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. "White Mountain, Battle of the". Chambers Dictionary of World History. 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Battle of White Mountain". private-prague-guide.com. 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.