This volume deals with the entanglement of Scotland in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), discussing both the diplomatic and military aspects of the conflict that led to Scottish involvement in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. To the Scots, the war was linked to the fate of the Scottish princess, Elizabeth of Bohemia, rather than the politics of central Europe per se.

In three sections, the 12 authors have illuminated the political processes that led to the participation of as many as 50,000 Scottish troops in the war. The official alliances of the Stuart regime, the independent diplomacy of the Scottish Parliament and the actions of numerous well placed individuals at various European courts are all shown to have had a bearing on this important episode of European history.

Contributions by: John Young, Steve Murdoch, William Brockington, Paul Dukes, Robert Frost, Matthew Glozier, Alexia Grosjean, Hartmut Ruffer, Kathrin Zickermann, Dauvit Horsbroch, Joseph Polisensky, David Worthington