Main causes of the Thirty Years War

The essay explores the complex causes of the Thirty Years War, emphasizing that the conflict stemmed from more than just religious and constitutional struggles. It highlights the interplay of socio-economic factors and political rivalries among territorial princes and the Emperor, alongside European power dynamics involving the Habsburgs and Bourbons. The precarious balance within the Holy Roman Empire, strained by internal divisions and external pressures, ultimately led to the war's outbreak, ignited by events in Bohemia.