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 436 WALLENSTEIN and successor to the throne, in the summer of 1630 convened the electoral conference of Ratisbon. The electors, Catholic as well as Protestant, groaning under Wallenstein's enor- mous exactions and jealous of his might, and also unwilling to recognize him as prince of the empire in his capacity of duke of Meck- lenburg, combined against him. Richelieu, through his agents at Ratisbon, held out hopes of a general peace, and intrigued with the elec- tors. Ferdinand yielded to the coalition and accepted their conditions, the chief of which was the dismissal of Wallenstein. In doing so, he acted against the advice of the Spaniards, who regarded Wallenstein as their strongest ally against the French. Wallenstein retired to his residence at Gitschin, followed by many of his best officers, and lived in princely state, doing much to improve agriculture, manufac- tures, and education. Tilly, who succeeded him in the command, was utterly routed by Gustavus Adolphus at Breitenfeld, near Loip- sic, Sept. 7 (0. S.), 1631. Shortly before the battle Wallenstein endeavored to obtain from Gnstavus Adolphus a detachment of 12,000 troops, pledging himself to attack the emperor in Bohemia : but the negotiations fell through. The battle of Breitenfeld spread terror over Austria. The emperor, ignorant of the trea- sonable negotiations with Gustavus, turned to Wallenstein as his only hope. The general, jealous already of Gustavus's power and per- ceiving the opportunity of gratifying his own ambition, consented to take command for three months and reorganize the imperial army. Of the terms which he exacted the principal point was the repeal of the edict of restitution. This edict, passed by the emperor in 1629, restored to Catholicism all church property that had been converted to Protestant uses since the peace of Passau, 1552. Wallenstein, who was a man of broad views and hostile to ultra- montane influences, though not free from su- perstition and even addicted to astrology, had opposed the edict as impolitic ; and the bitter feeling it aroused in North Germany had a large share in Gustavus's success. By the spring of 1632 a new imperial army was ready for action. Wallenstein then tendered his re- signation, pleading ill health, doubtless merely as a feint to obtain greater powers. Accord- ing to Ranke, the emperor conferred upon him the right of confiscation, amnesty, par- don, and supreme military authority in Ger- many, and the right to negotiate peace and ap- point officers below the rank of general. By the end of May Wallenstein had driven the Saxons out of northern Bohemia, and he then threw himself upon Nuremberg. Gustavus, who had defeated Tilly a second time at the Lech and overrun Bavaria, hastened to the re- lief. For more than two months the two great generals lay confronting each other in in- trenched camps. At last Gustavus made a des- perate attempt, Aug. 24, to force Wallenstein's position, but failed. Shortly afterward he withdrew, leaving a strong garrison in the city. Both armies were terribly reduced by pesti- lence and want of provisions. Gustavus at- tacked Bavaria once more. Wallenstein, in- stead of confronting him, marched into elec- toral Saxony. Gustavus followed in rapid marches. The two armies met at Lvitzen, not far from Leipsic. Wallenstein recalled Pappenheim, whom he had sent on a preda- tory expedition. Gustavus's attack was made on the morning of Nov. 6 (O. S.), 1632, before Pappenheim's cavalry reached the field. The battle was the bloodiest and most desperate of the war, and neither side could claim the victory. Gustavus and Pappenheim fell. But Wallenstein's army was crippled, and decamped in the night, leaving its artillery. Wallenstein retired to Prague, where he held a court mar- tial, executed 17 officers for cowardice, de- graded others, and rewarded those who had shown ability and courage. He passed tho winter and spring in reorganizing his army ; but the Swedes were almost as formidable as ever, and the entire summer of 1638 was passed in negotiations. On one occasion only, at Steinau, Silesia, in October, did ho assume the aggressive, by capturing a Swedish detach- ment under Duval and Thurn. Even this was of little avail, for Bernhard of Weimar, sudden- ly collecting his troops in Franconia, captured Ratisbon, Nov. 5. Wallenstein fell back upon Pilsen, and put his army in winter quarters in northern Bohemia. The court and the Spanish ambassador at Vienna became mis- trustful, but the emperor's faith was not yet shaken. Wallenstein seems to have been per- suaded that tho foe most to be dreaded was Richelieu, and that the peace of which the em- peror was sorely in need could not be effected without making France a party, which was con- trary to the wishes of the Spaniards. While he was negotiating with the Saxon general Arnira (or Arnheim), OQate, special envoy at Vienna from Milan, was working upon the emperor to order troops to be sent to the Low Countries. This was contrary to the terms of Wallenstein's command, and he declined to obey. Feeling that his position was becoming insecure, he pushed the negotiations with Saxony to a point where they became, if not exactly treasonable, at least hostile to the supremacy of the em- peror. Ofiate's demand for troops was made early in January, 1634. Wallenstein submitted it to a council of officers, who denounced it as impracticable, and signed a declaration pledg- ing themselves to stand by the general. There is little doubt that he contemplated joining Arnim and compelling the emperor to ac- cept peace. Kinsky, professing to act as his agent, had submitted to Richelieu a plan for proclaiming Wallenstein king of Bohemia. The general himself seems to have given it scarcely any attention, though Oflate suc- ceeded in convincing the emperor that he was acting in a treasonable manner. With great reluctance Ferdinand consented to his