Prince Rupert of the Rhine

For the city in British Columbia, see Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Early Life

Rupert was born in Prague in 1619 at the time of the Thirty Years War. Soon after his birth, the family fled from Bohemia to the Netherlands where Rupert spent his childhood. His mother, Elizabeth of Bohemia, sometimes known as the "Winter Queen", was a sister of King Charles I of England. Consequently, Rupert gave his allegiance to Charles when the English Civil War broke out, as did his brother, Prince Maurice von Simmern.

Related Topics:
Prague - Thirty Years War - Bohemia - Netherlands - Elizabeth of Bohemia - Charles I of England - English Civil War - Prince Maurice von Simmern

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At an early age he took to soldiering and fought alongside Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange at the siege of Rheinberg in 1633 and at Breda in 1638 - see Eighty Years' War. The forces of the Imperial General Hatzfeld captured him at the Battle of Vlotho (17 October 1638) during the invasion of Westphalia (Thirty Years' War) and imprisoned him in Linz, Austria, where he studied military textbooks. He was released on parole in 1641, on the condition that he never bear arms against the Holy Roman Emperor again.

Related Topics:
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange - 1633 - Breda - 1638 - Eighty Years' War - Hatzfeld - Battle of Vlotho - 17 October - Westphalia - Thirty Years' War - Linz, Austria - 1641 - Holy Roman Emperor

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