Albrecht von Wallenstein
Bohemian soldier and politician
Years: 1583 - 1634
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein (German; Czech: Albrecht Václav Eusebius z Valdštejna;September 24, 1583 – February 25, 1634), also Albrecht von Waldstein, is a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offers his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period (1625–1629) of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II.
He becomes the supreme commander of the armies of the Habsburg Monarchy and one of the major figures of the Thirty Years' War.
A successful generalissimo who has made himself ruler of the lands of the Duchy of Friedland in northern Bohemia, Wallenstein finds himself released from service in 1630 after Ferdinand grows wary of his ambition.
Several Protestant victories over Catholic armies induce Ferdinand to recall Wallenstein, who again turns the war in favor of the Imperial cause.
Dissatisfied with the emperor's treatment of him, Wallenstein considers allying with the Protestants.
However, Ferdinand has the general assassinated at Eger (Cheb) in Egerland by one of the army's officials, Walter Devereux.
