FREDERICK V, Elector Palatine, King of BOHEMIA. — Born 26 Aug. 1596, died 29 Nov. 1632. He strengthened his European position by marrying Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England (1613). In 1619 he accepted the crown of Bohemia, which led to the bitter struggle against the Habsburgs, in which he was defeated at the Battle of the White Mountain near Prague (Nov. 1620). Bohemia thus returned to the orbit of the Counter-Reformation; moreover, Frederick’s policy as head of the Evangelical Union had alienated the sympathy of the population. After his defeat, Frederick fled to Holland, vainly hoping to regain the throne. Died at Mainz.
Bibl.: E. Précin-V. L. Tapié, Le XVIIe siècle, 2nd ed., Paris 1949, ch. 3 and bibliography cited therein. Massimo Petrochi