The Pete Quiñones Show Episode 1314: The Thirty Years War - Part 5 - w/ Thomas777
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Jan 8, 2026 In a riveting discussion, Thomas777, a revisionist historian and fiction writer, delves into the intricate details of the Thirty Years' War. He introduces Peter Hagendorf's war journal, revealing firsthand accounts of violence and looting. The talk highlights Spain's pivotal financial support for the Catholic side, despite limited military engagement. Thomas connects various global conflicts, the dynamics of the Habsburg Empire, and the driving forces behind Spain's decline. The episode brilliantly intertwines historical narratives with broader implications for European identity and conflict.
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Mercenary War Journal Reveals Brutal Reality
- Thomas777 recounts Peter Hagendorf's 21-year war journal written by a literate pike officer who marched ~15,000 miles.
- The diary describes atrocities like Magdeburg's sack and daily mercenary life, and remains hard to translate into English.
Thirty Years' War Hurt Spanish Hegemony
- Thomas777 argues the Thirty Years' War played a major role in Spanish imperial decline despite Spain not being the main combatant.
- He links Spanish financial strain and ideological overreach to long-term imperial collapse.
Silver Wealth Without Industrial Base
- Spain exported huge amounts of silver but lacked a value-added economy, relying on specie rather than industrial development.
- That economic model funded Catholic armies but left Spain economically stagnant and vulnerable.
