Wallenstein 1101V set out upon a course of action entirely independent of the Emperor, and in the early part of 1633 entered into negotiations with Sweden, Saxony. and France, whether with trea sonable designs against the Emperor (his enemies charged him with aspiring after the Bohemian crown) or for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, it has not yet been definitely determined. Sud denly breaking off negotiations, be renewed the against Saxons• and Brandenburg; but this did not prevent his opponents from spurring on the Emperor' to remove him from his command. In Iris winter quarters in Itohemia Wallenstein was aware of the progress of the intrigues, and he sought to attach the officers of- his army to himself by causing them to pledge absolute obedi ence to him. His enemies finally carried the day, and in February an Imperial edict removed him from his command on the of conspiracy. A number of his officers had been gained over to the Imperial side, chief among whom were Pic eolomini and Gallas (qq.v.), to the latter of whom the command of the army was trans ferred. Wallenstein now removed from his head quarters at Pilsen to Eger for the purpose of es tablishing commun kat ion with t he Swedish army under Bernhard of Weimar. On the way to Eger he was joined by Colonel Butler, command er of a regiment of dragoons, to whom had heen intrusted the task of seizing the person of Wal lenstein. NO opportunity offered for the execu tion of the plan until the arrival at Eger, where, with two other Scotch offieers, Gordon and Leslie, Butler determined upon the assassination of the great general. On the night of February 2501 an
Irish officer named Devereux with a number of soldiers broke into the house where Wallenstein had taken up his quarters and slew him with a pike thrust in the breast. His estates were con fiscated by the Emperor. Walh•nstein had much of the ability of the statesman as well is the soldier. He was more liberal than his age and tolerant in religious matters, having no convic tions of his own. Ile was unscrupulous, and his ability was curiously affected by a superstitious faith in astrology, which he had studied deeply in Italy. There is a large amount of literature, both history and fiction, relating to Wallen stein. Much of it is controversial. Schmid, "Die Wallensteinlitteratur," in Mi(lcilunat)1 ars rerrins fur Geschielite o'er Deutsehen itt Boltmen (Prague, 1878, 1882, 1S84), mentions 806 titles. Consult: Parke, Gcscbi.cole ll'crRrn steins (Leipzig, 1880), the classic biography; Fi;rster, Briefe Thallensteins (Berlin, 29) ; id., Albrecht von Wullenstein (Potsdam, 1834) ; id., TVallensteins Prozcss 1844) ; liallwieh, Ewic, nnardruckte Brief(' vnd Akten (lb.. 1879) ; Gindely, Wuldslein eOlucnd seines ersten Gcnrruluts, 1625-16.30 (Prague, 1886) ; and a reply to Ilallwich, Zur Benrawiluny Iles 1... Generals .1. con Waldstrin (ib., 18S7) Bilek, BeitrUge zur Gesellichte 1886) ; Wittich, "Zur Geschichte Wallensteins." in Sybel's Ilistorische Zcitschrift (1892-93). Sec THIRTY YEARS' WAR.