is victorious army across Germany, from the Moldau to the Rhine.
The Palatinate was conquered. Frederic was outlawed, and Maximilian
of Bavaria became an Elector in his stead, so that the Catholic
Electors, who had been four to three, were now five to two. The
Heidelberg Library was removed from the castle, then the finest in
Germany, and was sent as a present to the Pope.

Tilly was a Belgian, born in the town of that name, near Waterloo, to
which Blucher retreated after Ligny. He had learnt war under Farnese,
and served with the League at Ivry. He fought against the Turks on
the Danube, and became a marshal in 1605. He was a soldier of the
Spanish school, rigid and severe; but he was no criminal, like Alva
and Farnese, and was the best and most trustworthy servant of the
Catholic cause in Germany. For ten years, from the White Mountain, he
carried all before him. The Union was dissolved. But German princes
and adventurers took arms one after the other, and dashed themselves
to pieces against him. When he was master of the valley of the Rhine,
foreign Powers, alarmed at his progress, began to intervene. France,
England, Holland, advanced funds, and Christian IV of Denmark led an
army into Northern Germany. Tilly defeated him, as he had defeated
every other enemy. His incessant success strengthened the Catholics,
the League, the Duke of Bavaria, more than the emperor.

Ferdinand's allies served him so well that they threw him into the
shade. The losses of the Protestants were not directly his gains.
For that, in order that he might reap the full harvest which others
had sown, he needed a great army commanded by a general of his own.
In due time he acquired both one and the other. He commissioned
Wallenstein to raise an Imperial force, independent of the League,
and to complete the conquest of Germany.

Wallenstein was a Bohemian noble, a convert and pupil of the Jesuits,
better known for his success in finance than in war. When the
confiscations were going on, he speculated in land. Having thriven
greatly, he lent large sums to the emperor. He gave valuable
assistance in debasing the coinage, and became by far the richest man
in the country. Watching the moment, he was able to offer Ferdinand
an army of 24,000 men, to be raised by himself, paid by himself,
commanded by himself, and by officers appointed by him. The object of
the armament was not to save the empire from the foe, for the foe was
bein