Bavarian campaign (1646–1647)

The Bavarian Campaign of 1646–1647 was a military operation during the later stages of the Thirty Years' War. It primarily involved French and Swedish forces under the command of generals such as Turenne and Wrangel, respectively, against the Electorate of Bavaria, a key ally of the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III.

The campaign was designed to pressure Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, into withdrawing from the war and ceasing his support for the Imperial cause. Bavaria, having suffered economically and militarily already in the war, became a prime target due to its strategic importance and the wealth it could contribute to continuing the Habsburg effort.

The French and Swedish forces, coordinating their movements, launched a series of offensives into Bavarian territory. These involved siege warfare against fortified towns, plundering of the countryside to sustain the armies, and pitched battles against Bavarian and Imperial troops. The campaign was marked by significant destruction and hardship for the Bavarian population.

While the allied forces achieved some tactical successes and exerted considerable pressure on Maximilian, they did not manage to completely knock Bavaria out of the war during this initial period. The campaign did, however, significantly weaken Bavarian resources and resolve, contributing to the eventual peace negotiations that concluded the Thirty Years' War with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The constant pressure led to a temporary truce in March 1647, but conflict soon resumed. The ongoing devastation ultimately played a role in Bavaria's agreement to the Truce of Ulm later that year, detaching it temporarily from the Imperial cause. This significantly weakened the Imperial position and hastened the end of the war.