Města a vojáci v oblasti Opolska za třicetileté války
Towns and soldiers in the Opole region during the Thirty Years’ War

Summary/Abstract: The towns of the present-day Opole region were drawn into the conflict between Frederick IV of Palatinate and his allies on the one hand, and the Emperor and the Catholic League on the other, as part of the Czech Crown at the beginning of the war. At first, they were threatened by the so-called Lisovsky-soldiers, after the peace between Silesia and the Habsburg by Johann Georg von Hohenzollern (Jägerndorf), then in 1626–27 by the Danes and Mansfeld’s mercenary troops. Since the 1630s, Swedes and their temporary allies the Saxons were active there. After the Peace of Prague (1635), only the Swedes remained the central enemies of the Silesian and, under their extremely capable commanders (Banér, Torstensson, Königsmarck), with iron regularity attacked the city walls, demanded ransom and contribution, and occupied strategic cities. In the years when there was no occupation, the delays and stays of various imperial and allied troops for which the towns incurred huge expenses were virtually an everyday phenomenon. If the city resisted the attacking enemy and succumbed to it in combat, it had to take into account, in addition to higher casualties, also being surrendered to the soldiers. However, the obligations of cities to domestic and occupying troops in principle did not differ from each other. Both sides demanded financial, material and even human resources. Soldiers often also caused fires and other damage, committed theft and robbery. Moreover, the presence of soldiers in the region caused a higher concentration of rural population in towns, and soldiers also repeatedly introduced contagious diseases (particularly the plague) into the towns. The coexistence between soldiers and burghers was rife with conflict during the Thirty Years’ War. Theft and alcohol, but also exaggerated military demands and disruption of the intimate sphere were most often behind the difficulties. Conflicts began with verbal attacks and insults, continued with physical attacks, and could result in serious injuries and death. Aggression, however, took place also among the soldiers, while numerous arsenals in the homes of the residents of Opole region again indicate their earlier combat experience – indeed, many soldiers were recruited into the armies from among the urban population. The populace had to adapt to the reality of war. During the war, cooperation between the towns deepened, particularly concerning information, and the strategy of defence mechanisms was gradually developed. At one extreme was defence with weapon in hand, and at the other extreme was escape from home. The cities well aware of their economic needs. Complaints, urgencies and demands evolved into a certain pressure on the government. The documents addressed from the towns to the authorities were given a standard form, in which the town was stylized into the form of the most deprived, plundered, or even burnt, and therefore very regrettable municipalities. It referred to the principles of Christian morality and resorted to threatening the departure of the population, leading to the disappearance of the entire urban economy. In turn, urban communities found in turn ways to survive the war period: collaboration, buying stolen goods, mutual solidarity, but also fraud, etc.

• Details
• Contents