WALLENSTEIN 



0129 



WALLINGFORD 



eral and statesman, with the exception of Gus- 

 tavus Adolphus the greatest figure during the 

 Thirty Years' War. He was born at Her- 

 manic, Bohemia, of noble but not wealthy par- 

 entage, and was first sent to be educated at 

 the Moravian Brotherhood of Koschumberg ; 

 later he entered the Jesuit college, and after- 

 1s studied at the universities of Padua, 

 Alulorf and Bologna. 



Wallenstein rendered gallant service in the 

 Hungarian army, and traveled considerably. In 

 1606 he returned home, married a widow,' who 

 at her death eight years later left him great 

 wealth, and soon became prominent in the af- 

 fairs of Bohemia. In 1617 he offered the Em- 

 peror 200 horsemen for service in the war 

 against Venice, commanding them in person, 

 and was created count of the empire and 

 colonel in the imperial army. At the opening 

 of the Thirty Years' War Wallenstein, though 

 approached by the revolutionary party, cast his 

 fortunes with the imperialists and equipped a 

 regiment of cuirassiers, serving with marked 

 ability. 



Having gained possession of his mother's es- 

 tates through the conquests of the war, Wallen- 

 stein bought at a low price a large number of 

 confiscated lordships and formed the territory 

 of Friedland, of which in 1625 he was created 

 duke. When the king of Denmark declared 

 \v:ir on Ferdinand, Wallenstein offered 20,000 

 troops for his monarch's support, if placed in 

 command. The offer was accepted, and Wal- 

 lenstein joined Tilly in Northern Germany and 

 defeated Mansfeld at Dessau. Peace being es- 

 tablished in Hungary, Wallenstein marched in 

 1627 to Silesia, and again joining forces with 

 Tilly against the Danes, completely routed the 

 enemy. He had previously purchased the 

 duchy of Sagan; in recognition of his services 

 the duchy of Mecklenburg was granted to him, 

 and he was made admiral of the Baltic and 

 generalissimo on land. 



Complaints of the successful leader soon 

 began to reach the emperor, but to these he 

 gave little attention. But Wallcnstein's many 

 enemies among the princes were busy, and 

 . v these, combined with the intrigues of 

 <-e, became so urgent that Ferdinand was 

 obliged to dismiss Wallenstein. The latter re- 

 niv.l to Prague, where he livid in "mysterious 

 m.iL" till, on the death of Tjlly the 



next year nd again turned to his de- 



posed general for aid. At first Wallenstein 

 (Irrlui'.l. but finally, being placed in absolute 

 military control, raised in three months an 

 384 



army of 40,000 well-armed and disciplined men, 

 and a second time drove the Saxons from Bo- 

 hemia. At the battle of Liitzen the imperialists 

 were defeated, but the death of Gustavus 

 Adolphus was a distinct advantage to them. 



Wallenstein then retired to Bohemia and en- 

 tered into negotiations with Saxony, Sweden, 

 Brandenburg and France, but what his pel 

 were is not clear. He had great ability as a 

 statesman, and his schemes seem mostly t<> 

 have been conceived around the fundamental 

 idea of "German unity." Though liberal, he 

 was arrogant and passionate, and any distrust 

 irritated him. He finally retired to Bohemia, 

 with headquarters at Pilsen, quite aware of the 

 activities of his enemies, but with great confi- 

 dence in the loyalty of his soldiers. Eventu- 

 ally, however, the Emperor was persuaded to 

 issue an edict removing him from military com- 

 mand and charging him with high treason. 

 Retreating to Eger, Wallenstein once more 

 opened communication with the Swedes, seek- 

 ing an alliance; the emperor knew of this at- 

 tempt at double dealing, and to protect him- 

 self, caused soldiers to assassinate Wallenstein 

 February 25, 1634. 



It is said that few surpassed him in power of 

 quickly organizing great masses of men and 

 inspiring them with confidence. \ MCC. 



Related Subject*. In connection with this 

 article on Wallenstein. the reader may consult 

 the following topics in these volumes: 

 Ferdinand Thirty Years' War 



Gustavus, subhead Tilly, Count of 



(! us turns II 



WALLFLOWER, wawl'floucr, sometimes 

 called gillyflower, a fragrant, climbing garden 

 and house plant, native to Southern Europe, 

 and so named from its habit of growing on 

 walls, over ruins and along stony cliffs. At one 

 time it was called heartsease, and there is a red 

 variety in England which goes by the name 

 />/. xling heart, but the latter is not like the 

 American plant which is so named. The wall- 

 flower is a shrubby herb belonging to the mus- 

 tard family, bearing clusters of single or double 

 flowers; in the wild species these are a cheerful 

 yellow, but they are variegated in cultivated 



varirti. -. 



WALLINGFORD, wol ' ing johrd, CON 

 city, or borough, in Wallingford town, New 

 Haven County, twelve miles northeast of the 

 Haven. It is served by the New 

 York, New Haven A Hartford Railroad, and is 

 on the Quinnipiac River. Population of the 

 borough in 1010, 8,690; in 1916, 9,917 (!)., ,1 



