10 The Revolt Defeated
The Ulm treaty
The armies in Bohemia had grown larger by the spring of 1620, partly
through constant recruiting and partly through contingents sent by
outside sympathisers, even though many of the additional men had
been required just to replace the heavy losses from hunger, disease
and desertion during the winter. Nevertheless the two sides remained
roughly equal, as the progress made and the help received by the one
was balanced by similar gains by the other. Bigger armies also meant
increased logistical and financial problems, and the Bohemians were
further hampered by poor coordination of forces raised by the individ-
ual constituents of the confederation. There were also disagreements
over strategy between the government and the army, as well as between
Palatine and Bohemian generals in the divided command, although
this was largely offset by corresponding weaknesses in the notoriously
ramshackle Imperial military organisation. Hence when campaigning
began again after the winter the situation looked much as it had done
in the previous year, with evenly matched forces probing for opportu-
nities and advantage, but neither looking likely to achieve a decisive
victory.
Instead the critical events were taking place in Germany, and in par-
ticular in Ulm, a city strategically placed on the west bank of the Danube
in central southern Germany, and an important member of the Protes-
tant Union. To the west its territory bordered on to that of Württemberg,
the largest Union member, with Baden beyond, while to the east it was
separated from Bavaria only by a strip of land belonging to the bishopric
of Augsburg, another member of the Catholic League. Over the spring
months the Union’s general, Margrave Joachim Ernst of Ansbach, had
203