Maschinenwaffeleisen t1_itusdwd wrote on October 26, 2022 at 1:50 PM

Reply to comment by francisdavey in TIL The European 30 Years' War 1618 - 1648 began with Czech nobles throwing two Habsburg governors out of Prague castle window onto a huge dungheap. The corresponding carnage - fought over the issue of religious freedom following the Protestant Reformation - left millions dead. by Royal_Bumblebee_

This is further shown by the fact that mercenaries and prisoners of war regularly were incorporated into the winning army after a lost battle. Many combatants changed sides multiple times. The devastation of the countrysides and the multiple plunderings of the same regions left no other choice than to join the war for many.