Images

A 1654 painting by Jacob Jordaens, 'The Blessings of the Peace of Westphalia'. The 1648 Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War in Europe. (National Museum of Art, Norway)

A 1620 painting of the Battle of White Mountain of 1620, the decisive Imperial victory by Count Tilly ending the Bohemian Revolt, the first phase of the Thirty Years' War. (Bavarian Army Museum, Munich)

A 1620 painting, 'Soldiers Plundering a Farm During the Thirty Years' War' by Flemish painter Sebastian Vrancx (l. 1573-1647). (Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin)

A 1629 portrait of the mercenary General Albrecht von Wallenstein, leader of the Imperial forces during the Thirty Years' War. (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich)

A circular obsidian mirror from ancient Mesoamerica. Aztec, 1325-1521. Width: 10 inches /26 cm. (British Museum, London)

An obsidian flake from Tikal, Guatemala which has been incised with a representation of a Maya god. Height: 9 cm / 3.5 in. 250-900 CE. (British Museum, London)

Two blocks of unworked obsidian from Guatemala. Obsidian was highly valued throughout ancient Mesoamerica for its cutting edge and polished lustre.

A 1619 portrait by Michiel Jansz of Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (l.1599-1655) who married the king of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus (r. 1611-1632) in 1620. (Gripsholm Castle, Södermanland, Sweden)

A 17th-century painting by Jan Martszen de Jonge showing the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus (r. 1611-1632) in battle.

Formations of the Battle of Breitenfeld, 1631, during the Thirty Years' War. The Imperial army under Count Tilly is on the left; the Swedish army under King Gustavus Adolphus is on the right.