234 Wallenstein
just as though he had done nothing’.^21 Naturally Gallas, Piccolomini
and Aldringer, having carefully taken no personal risks, expected to
be rewarded too, as did almost everyone even marginally connected
with the affair. Most were indeed handsomely treated, Gallas reportedly
becoming the largest landowner in Bohemia in consequence, despite
which many complained that their portions were too small compared
to others who had done less, with Piccolomini the loudest of them all.
So generous were the gifts bestowed upon the various claimants, which
had to be principally in the form of property since the emperor had as
little cash as ever, that the vast Wallenstein and Trcˇka estates, as well
as smaller confiscations, were mostly given away or traded off against
outstanding claims from the officer corps. Even so, some of the benefi-
ciaries were still waiting for actual settlement years later.^22
They did not all have time to enjoy their blood money. Butler died
of plague within the year, Aldringer was killed during a retreat, also in
1634,^ and Devereux likewise fell victim to the plague in 1639. Gordon
and Leslie fared better, as did Gallas and Piccolomini. Gordon lived
until 1649, and Gallas until 1647, most of the time as commander-in-
chief despite his disastrous military performance, while Piccolomini was
his alternate during periods of disfavour and ultimately his successor.
The newly noble and rich Leslie remained in the army for the rest of
the war, finally reaching the rank of field marshal in 1650.^23 Emperor
Ferdinand himself survived Wallenstein by three years, dying in 1637,
but not before he had been forced to abandon his Edict of Restitution to
secure peace with Saxony, although with a face-saving pretence that it
was only being suspended for 40 years. Maximilian of Bavaria and John
George of Saxony both lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1651 and 1656
respectively, so that both had the dubious distinction of ruling their
domains throughout the whole of the Thirty Years War.
Although the Imperial exchequer ended up with little to show from
the confiscations they at least cleared some of the accumulated debts to
the colonels and generals. In the process, however, a coach and horses
had to be driven through any concept of legality. Even had Wallenstein
been properly tried and condemned his property could not lawfully
have been seized, as it was the subject of an entail in perpetuity granted
some years earlier by Ferdinand himself.^24 This provided that while a
duke of Friedland could be executed for treason his duchy and estates
were exempt from confiscation even in these circumstances, and would
pass in full to his heirs. Such privileges were not unique in the high-
est circles, and this one was well-known in Vienna, but it was simply
ignored. Hence Wallenstein’s wife could not inherit, and she was left