Diet of Regensburg (1630)

The Diet of Regensburg (1630) was an assembly of electors, princes, and representatives of the Holy Roman Empire convened in Regensburg by Emperor Ferdinand II. It took place during the Thirty Years' War and was intended to address several pressing issues facing the Empire, primarily religious divisions, the ongoing war, and the growing influence of France.

Key outcomes of the Diet of Regensburg included the dismissal of Albrecht von Wallenstein, the powerful and controversial generalissimo of the Imperial army. Ferdinand II, under pressure from the Catholic League and fearing Wallenstein's immense power, agreed to his removal from command. This decision significantly altered the course of the war.

Another significant aspect of the Diet was the focus on resolving the Mantuan Succession crisis. The death of Vincenzo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat, in 1627, had triggered a succession dispute that involved numerous European powers, including France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. The Diet aimed to mediate a settlement that would prevent further conflict in Northern Italy.

The Diet also addressed the issue of implementing the Edict of Restitution (1629), which aimed to restore church lands seized by Protestants since the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. While nominally in effect, its enforcement had proven difficult and contentious, further exacerbating religious tensions within the Empire. The Diet did not fully resolve the issues surrounding the Edict, and disagreements over its implementation continued to fuel conflict.

Ultimately, the Diet of Regensburg (1630) proved to be a complex and only partially successful endeavor. While it achieved the dismissal of Wallenstein and attempted to address the Mantuan Succession, it failed to fully resolve the fundamental religious and political divisions that fueled the Thirty Years' War. Its outcomes had a significant impact on the subsequent course of the war, particularly in the decline of Imperial military strength following Wallenstein's departure and the continued struggles over the Edict of Restitution.