Ostend War

Ostend War
Timeline:	1632 series
Part of The Thirty Years' War
Date September 1633-June 1634 Location Europe Result USE victory Curtailment of French power in Europe Territorial expansion of the USE Re-establishment of the Union of Kalmar Establishment of united Dutch kingdom
Belligerents
Until mid-October 1633 Confederated Principalities of Europe primarily the New United States Sweden After mid-October 1633 United States of Europe Sweden	League of Ostend France England Spain Denmark
Commanders and leaders
Michael Stearns Gustavus Adolphus	Cardinal Richelieu Christian IV Charles I Philip IV of Spain

The Ostend War, also called the Baltic War, was a conflict fought in 1633 and 1634 between the alliance of Sweden and the Confederated Principalities of Europe/United States of Europe and the League of Ostend. It began in September 1633 with the betrayal of the Dutch fleet by the English and French at Dunkirk. It ended with the Congress of Copenhagen, held in in June of 1634, though the final battle was the Battle of Copenhagen, fought the previous month.

The Ostend War can be considered as both a conflict in its own right, and as the final action in the NTL's version of the Thirty Years' War.

Background

Grantville, a West Virginian town, was brought into 17th century Europe during the midst of the Thirty Years' War by the Ring of Fire. The town's presence and influence dramatically changed the entire conflict, especially after it created the "New United States" in Thuringia and allied with Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. This allowed Gustavus to win the Battle of Alte Veste, which he had lost in the original timeline. Even more importantly, it allowed Gustavus to avoid the Battle of Lützen, at which he had been killed in the original timeline – but which did not happen in the new one. Cardinal Richelieu, who had supported Sweden as part of his anti-Habsburg policies, saw the American-Swedish alliance as a potential threat to France; and secretly arranged a direct attack on Grantville, orchestrated by Albrecht von Wallenstein. However, the attack not only failed, but solidified the relationships between the "New United States" and Gustavus, and led to the establishment of the Confederated Principalities of Europe.

Aftermath

Rather than crush the American-Swedish Alliance, it made them stronger and weakened the nations of the Ostend Alliance.

England suffered a plague outbreak and King Charles was crippled in a carriage accident that also killed his wife.

Spain lost many of its ships during the naval battle against the Dutch. The defection of Ferdinand and his troops further hurt the empire. Another result of the war is the direct conflict between Spain and the Vatican, resulting in the Spanish Army being stretched thin and the Government wasting more money on futile wars.

France lost many ships and soldiers during the war, causing Richelieu's power base in France to wane. This would have the unfortunate effect of allowing Monsieur Gaston to stage a coup against King Louis XIII and the Prime Minister, further weakening the country.

With the United States of Europe secured in the west, south and sea, Emperor Gustavus could now set his sight on the rebellious states of Saxony and Brandenburg and settle old scores with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.