Dynastic unity of the the Habsburgs at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War through the eyes of Georg Ludwig von Schwarzenberg

Against the background of the correspondence of the Imperial Plenipotentiary Georg Ludwig von Schwarzenberg, preserved from the time of his diplomatic mission to Brussels in 1626–1627 where he negotiated with Spanish envoys about the possibility of wider economic cooperation between the two branches of the Habsburg family and the establishment of a joint trading partnership, the present study seeks to analyse the dynastic affiliations of the Habsburgs as seen through the eyes of a particular noble individual. In the aforesaid schemes, this diplomat of Bavarian descent brought together the traditional Habsburg community and the state, particular and often differing interests of the two territories ruled by the Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs – the Hispanic and Danubian monarchies. Both branches of the family were primarily concerned with ensuring a general peace in the countries under their control and everywhere in Europe (in the world), and protecting the interests of the Catholic Church.