Gallas, Matthias, Graf von definition of Gallas, Matthias, Graf von in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Gallas, Matthias, Graf von (mätē`äs gräf fən gäl`äs), 1584–1647, imperial general in the Thirty Years War Thirty Years War, 1618–48, general European war fought mainly in Germany.

General Character of the War

There were many territorial, dynastic, and religious issues that figured in the outbreak and conduct of the war.
..... Click the link for more information. . He served under Tilly Tilly, Johannes Tserklaes, count of (yōhän`əs tsĕrkläs` tĭl`ē)
..... Click the link for more information. , commander of the Catholic League, in Germany until 1629, and then entered Italy, helping to take Mantua (1630). He served as field marshal under Wallenstein Wallenstein or Waldstein, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von (wäl`ənstīn, Ger.
..... Click the link for more information. , chief of the imperial forces, but later participated in the conspiracy that brought about Wallenstein's removal by Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II and his subsequent assassination (1634). Gallas succeeded to a large part of Wallenstein's duchy of Friedland and to the actual command of the armies (nominally under the emperor's son). At Nördlingen (1634) he defeated the Swedes and Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar (săks`–wī`mär, zäks`ə-vī`mär)
..... Click the link for more information. . After 1635 his drunkenness and total incompetence caused him several times to lose his command, but he regained it each time through influence at court.