Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/439

 tion of eighteen of his generals, charging them with cowardice in that fatal battle. The following year he made good these losses, winning many battles in Silesia, Lusatia, and Brandenburg.

While winning so many battles for the emperor, Wallenstein did something that by no means pleased his sovereign. Without his consent, indeed without his knowledge, he entered into negotiations with the Swedes, and Saxons, and often held confidential discourses with Arnim, the Saxon general, who formerly had served in his army. These actions gave rise to the report that Wallenstein aspired to the crown of Bohemia, which he meant to gain through the help of his army. This coming to the ears of Richelieu, the prime minister of the French king, Louis XIII, who had formed an alliance with the Swedes for the destruction of the house of Hapsburg, he at once offered his services to Wallenstein to aid him in securing the Bohemian crown. These negotiations led to no purpose; but they roused the suspicions of Ferdinand, and ultimately brought the downfall of the great general.

While Wallenstein was carrying on a successful war in Saxony and Brandenburg, the Swedes invaded the dominions of the Duke of Bavaria, and besieged Ratisbon. Maximilian appealed to the emperor for aid, who at once requested Wallenstein to go to the assistance of the duke. The great general was loath to cut short his campaign to go to the aid of the duke, who before had been the chief cause of his removal from the command; consequently he was somewhat dilatory in his movements, and did not reach Ratisbon until it was too late, it having already fallen into the hands of the enemy.