The Damned of Magdeburg

The Setting

It is the spring of 1630 in the twelfth year of the Thirty Years’ War. The citizens of Magdeburg, a thriving city along the Elbe River halfway between Dresden and Hamburg, had so far managed to escape the horrors of the brutal conflict that had raged over the land. The city remained prosperous through its trade with the cities of the Hanseatic League, namely, through Hamburg, a bustling trade center, at the mouth of the Elbe. It was rumored to have enormous storages of grain and other food supplies on hand that kept its inhabitants from the ravages of starvation, disease, and war which plagued much of the region elsewhere.

Background to

the War

The Thirty Years’ War is rooted in the Reformation movement that swept over Europe in the sixteenth century. In essence, this movement divided much of the continent into two halves—the Protestant north and the Catholic south. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 was an attempt by reasonable men, who foresaw the potentiality of conflict, to avert open hostilities between the two rival religions. They accomplished this by accepting the premise of permitting the rulers in place of the different states to determine the religion preference of their subjects, and to tolerate the religion of others within their realm. This setup ultimately led to a delicate balance of power between the many electorate states existing within present-day Germany and the major powers surrounding it, namely, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Poland. Over time, relations between these entities became fueled with paranoia and rivalries threatening to upset this fragile balance; each state viewed the other with grave suspicions over aggrandizing their religion and hold over the other and formed into alliances to preclude such ambitions. Thus, the Protestant League was established by the independent free electorates to counter the Catholic electorates and sustain the balance viewed critical to their survival.

The event that initiated the outbreak of war occurred in 1617 when the aged Catholic King of Bohemia was near death without leaving an heir, and Ferdinand, Archduke of Styria, was named the new King of Bohemia by the Catholic electorate. Ferdinand was supported in this claim by King Philip III of Spain in exchange for the emperor’s concessions to Spain’s offensive against the Dutch. On May 18 Protestant leaders met with two of Ferdinand’s Catholic representatives and threw them out of the window of Prague Castle, an event known as the Second Defenestration of Prague, initiating the Bohemian Revolt. They rejected Ferdinand’s claim to the throne, offering it instead to Frederick V, Calvinist monarch of the Rhineland-Palatine and leader of the Protestant League, a move that impacted on the balance of power existing among the states. On August 28, 1619, Ferdinand became Emperor Ferdinand II of the Holy Roman Empire after the death of its preceding king.

Military action ensued when the leaders of the Bohemian Revolt supported a mercenary army under Ernst von Mansfeld to stabilize the situation and launch their own offensive under Count Thurn against certain states of the Holy Roman Empire having significant Protestant nobility in the summer of 1619. The Protestant League proclaimed neutrality, wanting to keep the conflict confined to Bohemia’s interests. Thurn had initial successes, which led to a general perception of the Holy Roman Empire being in a weakened state, leading other states to also rise against it. However, Mansfeld was defeated by Spanish Imperial forces at Sablat, forcing Thurn to return to Bohemia.

Maximilian, elector of Bavaria, a Catholic state, came to the support of Ferdinand by providing the finances to raise an army under Count Tilly, which pacified the regions previously taken by Thurn and then marched into Bohemia. He was defeated by Christian of Anhalt in the Battle of White Mountain. His troops, demoralized and unpaid, devastated the countryside, forcing Frederick to flee Bohemia and the Bohemian Revolt collapsed.

The war then evolved into several phases, spurred on by the competing interests of several of the key electorates and by the interference of foreign powers, all having a stake in its outcome. The battleground was primarily Germany. Alliances were formed through various means, among them the marriage of the nobility to establish political arrangements, and the entire scenario became one of a convoluted mire of rivalries, alliances and betrayals, victories, and defeats. Thus, it came about that the Catholic Bourbons of France, whose policies were directed by Cardinal Richelieu, opposed the Catholic Hapsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire and financed the Lutheran Swedish invasion of Gustavus Adolphus; they feared and hated the expansionary schemes of the Hapsburgs more than their religious affiliation.

To fully understand the complexity of the war, it should be kept in mind that although certain electorate states were designated as either Catholic or Protestant (Lutheran or Calvinist), following the faith of their rulers, they retained citizens of the opposite faith and may have even had a majority of these within their borders. The prime example of this was Bohemia itself which, although Catholic by designation, had always been a hotbed of the Protestant movement and likely had most of its citizens practicing Lutheranism. The consequence of this was that the rulers had to maintain a fine line in keeping their masses content, often living in fear of uprisings among the citizens whose faith they did not represent.

The war is generally categorized into two distinct periods. The first one, the years 1618 to 1635, was a struggle within the Holy Roman Empire fought between Ferdinand and his internal opponents and with the support of each side by external powers, which ended with the Peace of Prague. This short-lived pact led to the second phase, a more international conflict with France and Sweden on one side and the Spanish and Austrian Hapsburgs on the other, also fought mostly in Germany that ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. In this novel, we will concern ourselves only with one year of the first period, from mid-summer of 1630 to mid-May 1631.

Therefore, a summarization of the political situation in the summer of 1630 is provided to orient the reader in understanding the main factors influencing the principal characters of this story. It is as follows:

Emperor Ferdinand of the Catholic Holy Roman Empire has been successful in his offensive against the opposition. His general, Albrecht von Wallenstein, along with general Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly of the ally Maximilian of Bavaria, scored several victories over the armies sent against them so that now, in the summer of 1630, there was a temporary calm Germany, which had suffered horribly in the preceding decade, ravaged by war, disease, and famine. Soldiers from both sides of the conflict had plundered communities, robbing their citizens of whatever items of value they had to compensate for the lack of pay and provisions they received from their commanders, a general condition common in the war.

Magdeburg had been a Catholic bishopric and was strategically located along the Elbe River midway between Dresden and Hamburg, the main trading route to the Baltic Sea cities for the Holy Roman Empire. Although by 1630, the burghers of the city were predominately Lutheran, a small minority remained Catholic and were tolerated. About 30,000 residents lived there, of which only about a thousand may have been Catholic. Former Catholic facilities, churches, and estates were taken over by the Protestant majority over the years, and on March 6, 1629, Emperor Ferdinand issued his Edict of Restitution upon the German principalities.

This edict, among other things, denied the validity of any previous legal judgments involving church lands and empowered the emperor to alter the laws and legal decisions as seen fit. Recompensates for Catholic properties seized was the primary objective demanded by Ferdinand, and he used Wallenstein’s and Tilly’s armies to enforce his edict. It was in performing this duty that Wallenstein listed Magdeburg as one of the cities to be conquered. Magdeburg was an episcopal city, not a free city, which made it appropriate for Wallenstein to seek the enforcement of the edict.

Magdeburg was an electorate that fell under the administration of Christian William of Brandenburg, a Protestant, who had been named as the prince-bishop of the city in 1598, a position not recognized by Magdeburg because his election had not been confirmed by Ferdinand due to his Lutheranism. In 1614, he officially became the city’s Lutheran Administrator. He entered into an alliance with the Protestant King of Denmark in 1626 and led an army that Wallenstein defeated at the Battle of Dessau Bridge which prompted him to flee to Sweden in 1629. At the start of our story, in mid-1630, he is with the army of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden.

After Christian William fled to Sweden, the Magdeburg Cathedral Chapter deposed him and selected Augustus of Wettin, the 13-year-old son of John George, elector of Saxony, his successor, a position he was prevented from immediately taking by his father (because he did not want to offend Ferdinand) so that the city was essentially leaderless in 1630. For the sake of this story, temporary control of the city is under a fictitious head council member named Martin Helwig, as I was unable to find any names in my research. Additional council members mentioned in my story are also fictional, except for Otto von Gericke, one of the burghers of Magdeburg, who was noted for his intellect and scientific prowess.

This, then, defines the setting of our story. Magdeburg is currently led by the councilman, Martin Helwig; the chief burghers are Otto von Gericke and Wilhelm Strasser; it is mid-summer of the year 1630; the Holy Roman Empire is at its peak strength with its armies of Wallenstein and Tilly having defeated the Protestant armies sent against them and presently also having stabilized the political climate. All this was about to change.

I

T hey are asking for your presence at the town hall, Otto, Margarethe said to her husband when she returned from the local market. I ran into your friend Wilhelm who told me this.

It must be important, Otto said. A second meeting in as many days. Events are moving fast; each day presents us with more problems.

Otto proceeded to the door and put on his cloak resting there on a hanger. I don’t know when I’ll be back, dear. Keep the food warm for me if it’s late.

Otto von Gericke left his house and proceeded down the street leading to the city’s main square. There he met up with Wilhelm Strasser, an old friend from the university he attended at Leiden. Like him, he excelled in mathematics and science, studies they had in common and brought them together in a harmonious relationship that has lasted.

What do you know about this? Otto greeted Wilhelm.

As much as you do—nothing. Wilhelm responded. There’s an emergency about this call, though. The messenger who related it to me seemed quite anxious.

I guess we had best hurry. We don’t want to keep anyone waiting.

The two soon arrived at Magdeburg’s city hall, the Rathouse, and entered through its main portal. Inside, they found all the burghers, administrators, officers, and clergy officials seated in front of the chief magistrate’s table and gathered in groups representing their clienteles. Among the church leaders was Reinhard Bakes, the head priest of the Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine. This former Catholic Church was now a Protestant facility, bunched together with his fellow Lutherans. Opposite their area was the Catholic faction’s leader, Leopold William, representing the Bishopric of Magdeburg. He had only two subordinates with him because of the few Catholics remaining in a city that was by reputation and fact overwhelmingly Lutheran.

Among the burghers, one for each ward of the city as well as its nearest suburbs chosen by their electorates, two stood out among the rest because of their political skills and recognized intellect; one was Otto von Gericke, a true renaissance man, known for dabbling in physics, mathematics, art and architecture, as well as being a skilled politician and a good host at parties who loved to socialize and threw them with recurring frequency. The other was his best friend, Wilhelm Strasser, who also excelled in a multitude of disciplines and was esteemed by his fellow burghers.

The presiding council member was a burly man named Martin Helwig. He had a stentorian voice and crude mannerism about him but elicited a degree of respect for his ability to keep things moving and getting things done. His matter-of-fact approach was tempered with an occasional touch of humor that lightened the gravity of the situations he was confronted with, and he was known to be generally well-intentioned in outlook and behavior. In short, he was the right man to be leading the city’s council, regulating it with dignity and proper decorum to the approval of those in attendance.

Silence in the hall! Martin shouted, and when the audience quieted down, he soberly began to address them.

The last time we met, I informed you that Ferdinand, the Holy Roman emperor, had called on an electoral meeting of all the states at Regensburg. We have now received word that some of the electorates are refusing to come to this conference. Among these is John George, elector of Saxony, strongest of the Protestant states. If he refuses to answer a call by the Holy Roman emperor, then why should we feel obligated to do so? I see nothing in this meeting that can benefit Magdeburg.

How will our absence benefit us? von Gericke asked.

The meeting is the emperor’s attempt to establish a permanently fixed situation regarding each electorate’s boundaries and religious status.

What is wrong with that?

It does not affect the Edict of Restitution—the emperor has already said as much. The longtime Protestant electorates—Brandenburg, Saxony, Anhalt, and others—want to demonstrate by this boycott of the meeting their unified resentment of the edict. I think it is proper for Magdeburg to stand behind them on this issue. We are, after all, a Protestant city.

And have been for a long time, Strasser added.

But you confiscated church property, some without paying for it, when you became predominately Protestant and made it your own. The edict merely seeks to correct this injustice, Leopold broke in.

We’re not here to discuss the deeds of our forebearers, Martin said. The point is: do we support our Protestant colleagues? Not doing so will isolate us from them, which cannot be good for our businesses and commerce. That is as threatening to our well-being as is the rising power of the Hapsburgs. My own opinion is that we should remain unified in our stand against the edict.

In order to induce the emperor to ease up on the conditions imposed on us by the edict, von Gericke surmised.

Exactly. What say you? Are you in favor of boycotting Regensburg?

Except for Leopold and his two underlings, everyone in the hall voiced their consent to the proposal. What could it hurt? Easing the conditions would benefit everyone; a failure to accomplish this would have no appreciable change to their existing condition.

Very well then, Martin said, I shall inform the Protestant League that we stand behind them. There is one other thing I should inform you about. We have received word that there has developed friction between the emperor and his leading general, Wallenstein. Apparently, this also has to do with the proposed Regensburg meeting. Many of the Catholic electorates are upset over the zeal in which he has pursued the policy of enforcing the edict. They say his actions have led to Protestant discontent within their borders, that there might even be revolts, and they want Ferdinand to address the issue at the conference.

That is interesting, von Gericke remarked. The emperor is being challenged on the same issue from both sides. I can imagine him squirming, wanting to avoid it altogether.

Long overdue, I would say. Maybe what we do here will make him see the light.

With that, Martin banged his gavel on the table, indicating the meeting was over. The attendants gradually exited from the town hall, pausing to speak amongst themselves over matters of concern. Otto von Gericke and Wilhelm Strasser initially partook in these conversations but soon left the group and proceeded walking across the main square on their way home.

That would be something, Wilhelm said, if Wallenstein and the emperor had a falling out.

I can see it. My surprise is that it didn’t happen earlier.

What do you mean?

Wallenstein is his own man, not easy to control. I have heard that he only does things that are of use to him, that he tries to profit from his victories as much as he can, even at the expense of disobeying his King.

The richest man in the empire conducts his battles to gain even more wealth. That seems so odd at face value.

It appears to be a common affliction among the rich. The more wealth you have, the more you have a desire to acquire even more of it.

The definition of greed.

Yes. In Wallenstein’s case, it works in our favor. If the Catholic electorates find his actions offensive and pressure the emperor to do something about it, it will reveal to the world that the empire is not as powerful and monolithic as we think it is. Martin is right in having Magdeburg join the boycott. It will amount to a humiliation for Ferdinand, perhaps even revealing him to be impotent in wielding power. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Whatever happens, Otto, I long for a restoration of peace and tranquility for us. Twelve years of continuous warfare is enough. Along with the plague and crop failures, there has been too much suffering in Germany. I thank God every day that Magdeburg has been spared these evils.

Agreed. We have been blessed in that regard. Come into my house. We will drink on that.

The invitation was well received by Wilhelm, and he joined his companion when they arrived at his house to relish their good fortune.

II

In Memmingen, a ten-day journey south of Magdeburg, Wallenstein sulked in his headquarters and called upon his major subordinate commander, Hans Georg von Arnim, to see him. When he arrived, he found his boss sitting behind his desk, a grim countenance evidenced in his face, indicating this would not be a pleasant encounter.

You sent for me? Arnim said, initiating their conversation.

I can’t believe he did this to me, Wallenstein raged. After all, I’ve done got him! The stars told me I would face a major setback here, and so it has happened.

What has, sir?

I received word that Emperor Ferdinand wishes for me to stop all operations in enforcing his Edict of Restitution. It has alienated many of the electorates who have threatened to boycott his Regensburg Summit scheduled for next month.

Stop all operations? The devil, you say!

He no longer trusts me. If I refuse, he threatens to relieve me of my command!

A respite will probably do a lot of us some good, sir.

Damn you, Arnim! I will not finance soldiers to sit on their ass doing nothing. Being idle deprives us of the booty that can be had for the taking.

Perhaps if we lowered our expectations—

What the hell is the matter with you? You’re missing the point. It’s not out of any lack of targets that we are asked to stop. Tilly has not been stopped. Only me! The emperor has it in for me. Well, if that’s the case, I’m not going to give him the pleasure of sacking me.

You’ll comply with his request?

No, that’s not what I meant to say. I will not suffer the indignity of being removed of command. That would give Ferdinand great pleasure—an exercise of the power he wields over me. I herewith submit my resignation. He’ll discover that my magnificent army will dissolve without me to lead it.

And to finance it.

Don’t push your luck, Arnim. My patience has its limits!

Sorry, sir. You invited my sarcasm—it was simply too good to pass up. I am, and will remain, your most loyal subordinate.

Then hear me out. If the emperor thinks he will be rid of me, let him be reminded that what I had planned on doing will be carried out, with or without me. The electorates can piss and moan all they want; it will not prevent us from complying with his orders on the edict. Only if he publicly declares his edict null and void will we terminate its execution.

You have my willing obedience in whatever you decide to do, sir.

Thank you. Now, even before he planned on his summit conference, we discussed the possibility of taking the most prosperous Protestant stronghold along the Elbe.

You mean Magdeburg.

Yes, Magdeburg. That cursed place—smug in its protestations against the Holy Roman Empire, ever flaunting itself as the center of intellect and enlightenment, home to Lutherans and vile Calvinists and even the ungodly. Is it right that this city of anti-Papist miscreants should have for this long escaped our wrath?

This is unlike you, Wallenstein. I never thought you to be so zealous in your devotion to the empire.

What is your point?

Well. How should I put this? We always thought your first priority was to yourself. Wallenstein before Vienna, as the saying goes.

What’s that? They’re saying that about me?

I’ve heard it said. The troops know your habits, sir. They are keen at observing our mannerism, often making inferences on these.

So it would appear. Now that I’ve decided to submit my resignation, what are you going to do? Will you remain with us?

I don’t know. It was your powers of persuasion that got me to join this army of the Holy Roman Empire, even though I am a Lutheran by upbringing. I appreciate the tolerance you’ve shown me.

You’ve served me well, Arnim, and you’ve risen in rank to field marshall. Your men speak highly of you and are very loyal to you, the mark of a good commander. I should hate to lose you, but I understand if you cannot abide an idle army.

Thank you, sir.

I have but one request should you leave. With your impressive record of battle victories, you will have no problems finding a new position, but please do not join Tilly’s army. He and I have never gotten along, and it would be most injurious to me if you did.

I was not aware of this, sir.

He is slow to react to given directives. I ordered him to march on Magdeburg some time ago; he has yet to comply.

His army is financed by Maximilian of Bavaria. Technically, he is not subordinate to you.

True, but it is the emperor’s tasks we are ordered to carry out. He is the authority over this.

That may well be, but he only answers to Maximilian. Tilly may be executing his will in engaging in the delays.

Yes, I’ve thought of that. Maximilian and Ferdinand have had their share of difficulties, a matter of pride, I suspect. Still, I prefer if you stay away from Tilly. His soldiers are not sufficiently paid and have resorted to plundering and ransacking the villages they have conquered. This does not bode well for our cause.

At this moment, Arnim glanced at the table before his commander and noticed the astrological and astronomical maps stretched out there. Wallenstein took note of the observation.

You are amused by my charts? Wallenstein asked.

I find it paradoxical, sir.

Indeed. How so?

We are in a religious war, in support of the Catholic cause, and yet, I see that you delve in what can only be described as paganism.

Wallenstein let out a hearty laugh as he could see the apparent contradiction his habit must have presented to others. The stars reveal much to us, Armin, he said. Pagan it may be, but I am thoroughly convinced of their accuracy in predicting the future. Why do you think I am submitting my resignation?

Sir?

The stars tell me I will be recalled to duty within a year. Ferdinand will beg for me to resume command; I shall do so, but only at a substantial increase in salary.

Arnim hid his skepticism under a stoic frown, thinking his boss may have taken leave of his senses. He pretended to have an interest in the data maps that so influenced Wallenstein, agreeing to their forecast but not believing it. In this war, anything might be possible—even the absurd.

III

On July 7, 1630, Martin Helwig frantically called forth a meeting of Magdeburg’s principal burghers to discuss a matter of grave importance to all concerned. The usual attendants were there, including von Gericke and Strasser, Leopold of the Catholic faction, and the representatives of the local defense force with Ludwig Essling, their spokesman. Martin’s demeanor was one of extreme nervousness, and it revealed itself in the tenseness expressed in his voice.

First and most important, we have received word that three days ago, on July 4, Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, landed in Usedom—in Pomerania—with his invading army, Martin began, then paused to gauge the reaction of his audience. All appeared to be in shock. He continued.

He brings with him sixteen troops of horsemen and ninety-two companies of foot soldiers with a sizeable attachment of artillery, thirteen thousand men in all. While this is not a large army, he is, as we speak, recruiting local Germans and anyone else who will join him to enlarge his force. We have heard he is achieving a high number of enlistments and will soon double his numbers. Ordinarily, I would say he is welcome in enhancing the Protestant cause, but in this case, as it relates to Magdeburg, he is more of an intruder upon a situation that has been stabilized than a desired guest.

You mean because his arrival actually threatens us, Otto broke in. In what sense, may I ask?

We do not know the outcome of the Regensburg Summit. The emperor may well decide to ease his position on the Edict of Restitution, thereby resolving the major impediment to our progress toward a lasting peace. If this happens, what use is the Swedish invasion to us? Instead of bringing us closer to peace, their presence will only prolong a conflict we are all tired of and want to be ended. I see nothing useful in the Swedes coming here.

There arose a general murmur of agreement to what Martin had said, but Otto questioned the burgermeister’s assumed position. What if the emperor does not yield in the severity of his edict? he asked.

That still poses a threat to us. He will then hasten his attempts to seek compensation from us, which means send Tilly against us before the Swedes arrive.

If that happens, we will come begging for the Swedes to deliver us.

Yes, which means we cannot let our displeasure over their coming to Germany alienate them. Damn! Why couldn’t Adolphus wait until the Regensburg Summit was completed?

It puts us in a bind. If we show our displeasure, he may not consider rescuing us if we needed to be, but if we welcome him, the emperor will assume we will not compensate him in compliance with his edict and act accordingly send his armies here.

What is this nonsense! shouted out Thomas Ringer, a burgher noted for his zealous adherence to the Protestant cause.

What is it you call nonsense, Ringer? Martin asked.

Why pretend that we are not grateful for the Swedish arrival? It is god sent to us! He will deliver the electorates from the Catholic menace. Pardon me, Leopold, if this offends you. I say, send word to Gustavus Adolphus that we welcome him with open arms and will back him with whatever provisions and manpower he needs.

It does offend me, Ringer, Leopold yelled back. I see nothing good coming out of his presence in Germany.

That’s because your Holy Roman Empire’s victories have us, the Protestants, on the defensive now. You did not feel that way earlier in the war when the situation was reversed.

Are you suggesting that I am a hypocrite?

Not only suggesting but loudly proclaiming it!

Scum that you are! Recant those words. I demand it!

Will you two be silent? Martin exclaimed, drowning them out in his booming voice. I will not have this gathering turned into an undignified brawl! I suggest you, Thomas Ringer, concern yourself with what matters to Magdeburg, not the other electorates around us. We have succeeded in keeping a certain neutrality, if you will, between our opposing armies which has kept our city safe. If we now make our affiliations apparent to all, we incur a risk of greatly offending one side or the other. Do you not agree with that assessment, Ringer?

I do not! Our affiliation is already apparent to all. We are a Protestant city and have been ever since the Reformation started. There is no point denying this to ourselves. We all know it. In view of this, I see nothing wrong in announcing it to the world by welcoming Adolphus.

Except that doing so would be a declaration of war against the Holy Roman Empire, Otto broke in. Rather than publicly announcing our allegiance to the Swede, let us keep both sides guessing as to our commitment.

I agree, Martin said. We need to stay out of this by condoning the actions of neither.

You earlier referenced only the army of Tilly moving on us, Reinhard Bakes added. Did you mean to also say Wallenstein?

Ah yes, Martin said. That was the other major news item I had for you. We have been told that Wallenstein has turned his resignation to the emperor.

What?!

It’s true. My understanding is that the emperor was under pressure from his electorates to relieve Wallenstein of command; he chose to resign rather than suffer the indignity of such an action.

That makes no sense at all, Otto remarked. The emperor sacking his most competent general. It’s inconceivable.

This has to be divine intervention, Ringer declared. First, the coming of the Swedish king, and now, the dismissal of Wallenstein. We are greatly favored by both events.

Call it what you will, Ringer, but I prefer to regard this as the judgment of men. I remain skeptical about it. No ruler would dismiss his greatest general in time of crisis.

At present, there is no crisis, Martin said.

There is now that the Swedes have come, Otto countered.

This quieted the hall for a moment as the significance of statement sank in. For all the attendees, this suggested that there would be no end to the war that had lasted for twelve years, a sobering reflection that did not settle well.

I’ve been told that our boycott of the proposed Regensburg Summit led to it, Martin continued. The electorates wanted all the principalities represented, and when many of them refused the invitation, they put pressure on the emperor to get rid of Wallenstein. It appears our actions had some effect after all.

I’ll give it credit once we hear of the summit’s outcome. Our purpose was to force the emperor to relinquish his Edict of Restitution on the Protestant states. Until we hear that he has done this, I will hold off on any acclamations about our success.

You are a hard man to please, Otto, Martin said. But you are right; we still have Tilly to be concerned about if it comes to that. It appears everything hinges on what is decided at Regensburg.

I fear that the arrival of the Swedes will abrogate whatever happens at Regensburg.

Yes, so it seems. I do have one other item that may be of interest. In addition to Wallenstein resigning, his ablest subordinate, Arnim, has also broken ranks. He has been hired by John George, elector of Saxony, to take charge of his army.

A better position for him, Otto said.

Why do you say that?

He is a Lutheran, some say very devout in his convictions. Why he ever fought for the Holy Roman Empire is a mystery.

It had to be for money; he is a mercenary. I have nothing but contempt for them.

I don’t think so, sir. It had more to do with being in command of military operations. Wallenstein used him to battle the Poles and against the eastern provinces.

He did well on his campaigns. He has a reputation for being undefeated in all the battles he fought.

Yes, and now he commands the Saxons. That should be of comfort to Lutherans everywhere and further makes you question why we need the Swedes.

They come to enhance the Protestant cause, Ringer added.

Neither Martin nor Otto had any desire to resume further arguments on that issue and ignored making a comment on it. Instead, Martin chose to bring the meeting to a close which he duly proceeded to do by slamming his gavel on the front table.

IV

Margarethe was watering her plants in the garden of their palatial house. With her was her young son, Hans Otto, who was playing with the family dog. She always kept a close eye on her child as the little boy was the only remaining member of the family, her other son and daughter having died of consumption while still infants. The unfortunate event filled Margarethe with a horrible fear of failing in motherhood to adequately protect her son so that she was seldom any distance from him, always keeping him in close proximity and under sur veillance.

I see that you are keeping yourself busy as usual, Margie, a voice entered the blissful scene.

It came from her close friend, Susannah Ringer, the young wife of Thomas, who was walking home from visiting the central market.

It’s not exactly backbreaking work, Susannah. Still, it fills the day so that I don’t take too many naps and forget where Hans is.

Ah yes. Must not lose sight of him. Don’t you think you might be somewhat overprotective of him?

No. If you had gone through what I went through in losing my Anna and little Otto junior, you would not disparage my protectiveness that way.

Oh please, Margie. He is a boy. Sheltering him the way you do will not endear him to you in the future. Boys must be taught to be self-reliant and bold so that they face their tomorrows with confidence and courage.

Are you suggesting I am remiss in my duties as a mother? If so, I would much prefer your quietness to your admonitions.

Don’t be so sensitive. I meant well. You should be appreciative that I exhibit an interest in what you do, as good friends ought to.

Of course. I’m sorry if I seemed cross to you. Please come in. Let’s have some wine.

As Margarethe led Susannah into the main dining room, she looked back to see that Hans was happily engaged in his activity, a gesture that did not go unnoticed to her guest. Realizing this, Margarethe burst out in laughter, as did Susannah, as the act highlighted the point of their discussion and made it seem somewhat nonsensical. They were good friends, almost to the point of reading each other’s minds. They relished their company, meeting regularly to converse and exchange pleasantries so that the invitation was of a routine matter rather than having any formality attached to it.

Margarethe opened a wine bottle after Susannah had taken to her seat and entered with two glasses held between the fingers of one hand and carrying a bottle in the other. She poured the wine and handed one of the filled glasses to Susannah. She then seated herself opposite her friend on the sofa.

I understand Otto and Thomas had a somewhat heated meeting the other day, Margarethe began. I do hope that has no bearing on our own friendship.

Thomas can be so obtuse at times. I often wish he were less offensive, but tact has never been one of his strong points.

Otto tells me your husband is too passionate about the king of Sweden entering the war. He looks upon it as Magdeburg’s salvation.

You don’t need to tell me. That’s all he’s raved about in our evenings. He sees it as a blessing from God. Can you believe that?

You mean a divine intervention?

That’s the term. I try my best to listen to his gloating about it, but honestly, it does get tiresome after a while. I suppose it is unavoidable in these turbulent times, but you have to wonder if this is good for us. I mean, it sort of suggests the war will continue.

Yes, it does. Thomas is not alone in applauding the Swedish king’s arrival. I hear all the northern provinces are enthralled about it.

Oh, Margie. What can it all mean? This war has gone on for twelve years. It’s only recently—this year—that we’ve had some sort of respite, giving us an expectation that it would somehow continue. And now this. I fear things will only get worse.

I share your fear but look at it this way; so far we have not been impacted by the devastation that other places have suffered. Otto tells me our storage facilities are full; our trade continues with Hamburg and the Scandinavian countries. I mean, just look at Bohemia, ridden with the plague and crop failures, with its people reduced to poverty and starvation. I can’t imagine what their people are going through.

Thomas says that is because its people are not allowed to practice their Protestant religion. Catholic rulers do not permit it. All this is too much for me. I really don’t understand it.

Just be grateful these problems don’t exist in Magdeburg. But I’m tired of talking about politics. You usually have some juicy gossip for me. Are you out of these now?

Susannah broke out in a wide smile; she deemed herself an expert on learning about the affairs of others, and it flattered her that Margarethe apparently shared this opinion of her. It pleased her to know what she had to say mattered to her friend.

I’ve heard that our dashing young officer assigned to command our defense force has a crush on Reinhard Bakes’s wife, Isolde.

Are you speaking of Ludwig Essling?

The same.

You must be kidding. I thought he was infatuated with Bakes’s daughter, Marie. Isn’t she the one he is frequently seen with?

Yes, but you’ll never believe why. He only hangs out with Marie so he can be around her mother.

Oh my God!

In this case, I can’t really blame the poor man. It’s one of those unlikely situations where a mother far outshines her daughter when it comes to looks.

Isolde is very beautiful, there’s no doubt about that.

The most beautiful woman in Magdeburg, as is the general consensus, especially among men.

Wow! Isn’t that something? But if you know about this, I should think Reinhard must also be aware of it. How did you find out?

I heard it from one of his fellow officers. It seems he got into a drunken brawl a few nights ago and while in his inebriated state became moody and started to mope over his predicament, feeling sorry for himself over having to play his pretension games with Marie when he, in fact, craves for Isolde. That had to be a spectacle. Makes me wish I had been there to see it.

And the officer confided this in you?

Well, I sort of squeezed it out of him. He made me promise not to tell anyone else about it so here I am telling you, Susannah laughed as she said this. You will keep it a secret, of course, she added.

You have my word on it.

Then I should also tell you that Reinhard appears to know it also, and he’s really pissed off about it. Isolde had to stop him from challenging Essling to a duel. Not because she feared for the young man’s safety, but because she was afraid that he might kill her husband, you know, being military and all, trained in the use of weapons.

Unbelievable! I knew I could count on you to stop the day from being bored. So, Reinhard is just putting up with the situation. That’s a tricky one. He could lose his patience and erupt in an explosion of fury. I hate to think of what that might result in.

Nothing good for sure. Ludwig is on dangerous ground. As is said in the commandments: Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s wife. That is an accepted law among both Catholics and Protestants; neither will abide by its violation.

Very careless of him to reveal his covetous desires while drunk. If this becomes common knowledge, he will find himself in hot water.

So true. Isolde, I’m sure, knows this and is trying to keep a lid on it.

Are you sure she is trying? Margarethe wondered.

What are you suggesting?

Oh, nothing really. I was merely pondering if, being as beautiful as she is, she isn’t flattered by all the attention given to her. You know how lustful men can be.

My guess is that she is more annoyed than flattered.

We can find out. Otto and I are hosting a weekend party on Saturday. He likes these because he usually finds out things he didn’t know through such social gatherings. We’ll invite the usual guests, which includes Ludwig and Isolde, and you and Thomas of course. We can use the occasion to discover how she feels about this unsavory business.

I shall look forward to it, replied Susannah, beaming in her gracious smile. I have to go now before my purchases turn bad.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time then. Have a pleasant day.

As Susannah departed, Margarethe remained pleased over the conversation they had. She thought it was amazing how her friend always managed to get the latest dirt on everybody. Dirt was probably the wrong word to use, implying a criticism that seemed unfair as it alluded only to rumor and was unsubstantiated by facts. Nevertheless, it made things interesting for her and she quietly acknowledged an appreciation for the information rendered, accurate or not. It was, after all, quite juicy.

V

Otto von Gericke had just finished checking the defensive measures taken up by Commander Ludwig Essling, viewing the inspection as a civic duty that all burghers should concern themselves with and was somewhat worried over what he had observed. The military hardware, namely the cannons, appeared to be in their proper positions behind the forward walls, emplaced along their perimeter to face in every direction except toward the Elbe River. Most of the city extended along the west bank, with a small section of it on the east side, but there was also a small built-up island within the city’s limits that seemed vulnerable for an attack from along the river. No protective barrier existed on the island that von Gericke regarded as a remission of proper planning for Magdeburg’s defense; he brought his concern to Essling’s attention.

How many gun emplacements did you say we have? he asked Essling.

One-hundred twenty, answered Essling. All of them positioned in key sections of our wall.

Yes, I saw that. But I noticed that none of them cover our riverfront. Is this because you do not think they are needed there?

We do not anticipate an attack from the river.

Are you espousing basic military doctrine to me, or is it something you feel is of no importance to our defense?

All the battles fought so far in this war have been land battles. We have seen no use of floating devices or equipment; our estimate is that they are not in existence.

I see. And you concur with that assessment?

I do. They river is fast flowing here, providing us with a natural obstacle to any attempt to attack us from it. If it worries you that our measures protecting it are inadequate, we can always shift the lighter cannons into placement along the banks on both sides. At present, I think it unnecessary finding the guns more important along the outer walls.

I leave that judgment in your professional hands. You are the experts at this.

Thank you, sir, Essling responded, satisfied that his answer was agreeable to the burgher. He did not like civilians questioning his expertise, regarding them as untrained in the disciplines of war and ignorant of the specifications that implied.

As von Gericke left the waterfront, he met up with his superior, Burghermeister Martin Helwig, who had been observing his inspection.

What do you think? Martin asked. "Are our