2. Albrecht von Wallenstein´s youth

Albrecht Václav Eusebius von Wallenstein was born in 1583 as the son of the impoverished nobleman William von Wallenstein and his wife Margaret of Smiřice. Of the couple's seven children, only Albrecht and his two sisters survived to adulthood. After the death of his parents, little Albrecht went to his mother's brother-in-law, Jindřich Slavat of Chlum and Košumberk.

STUDIO

In the autumn of 1597, Slavata sent him to study at the Latin Gymnasium in Goldberg, Silesia. From 1599 he continued his studies at the Protestant University in Altdorf, but in 1600 he had to leave the school due to skirmishes and battles.

After the death of his guardian Slavata, Albrecht embarked on a study tour of Europe. He studied mathematics, astronomy (astrology) and also met Kepler. In Italy he fell under the spell of Italian architecture and painting. During these travels Albrecht von Wallenstein also acquired new languages - he spoke Czech, German, Spanish, Italian, and the basics of Latin and French.

THE BEGINNING OF A CAREER

After returning from his travels, in 1604 he was hired as an ensign for Emperor Rudolf II's military campaign against the Turks and Hungarian rebels, where he earned a promotion to governor. He returned from the Hungarian campaign in poor health and with a wounded arm.

Around this time a very important moment occurs. It is not known for certain when Wallenstein converted to Catholicism, but the period 1602-1606 is said to be between. For the Protestant Wallenstein, the conversion to the Catholic Church was a step towards his career and ascent; he knew that as a follower of the Unity of the Brethren faith he would not have an open door at court.

From 1608 he was a governor in the service of Archduke Matthias of Habsburg. His task was to recruit a regiment of German mercenaries in Moravia alongside the inexperienced Maximilian of Liechtenstein, at the head of which he took part in the campaign on Prague. However, the whole dispute between Rudolf and Matthias was ended on 24 June 1608 with the signing of the Peace of Libeň, whereby Rudolf lost Austria, Hungary and Moravia. Wallenstein was thus able to return to court.