Passage: In 1608, the reformed princes merged into a so-called Union within the Empire. In Franconia, the margraves of Ansbach and Bayreuth as well as the imperial cities were part of this alliance. The Catholic side responded in 1609 with a counter-alliance, the League. The conflicts between the two camps ultimately resulted in the Thirty Years' War, which was the greatest strain on the cohesion of the Franconian Circle Initially, Franconia was not a theatre of war, although marauding armies repeatedly crossed its territory. However, in 1631, Swedish troops under Gustavus Adolphus advanced into Franconia and established a large encampment in summer 1632 around Nuremberg. However, the Swedes lost the Battle of the Alte Veste against Wallenstein's troops and eventually withdrew. Franconia was one of the poorest regions in the Empire and lost its imperial political significance. During the course of the war, about half the local population lost their lives. To compensate for these losses about 150,000 displaced Protestants settled in Protestant areas, including Austrian exiles.
How many years after the reformed princes merging did the Catholic side respond with a counter alliance? How many years after the reformed princes merging into a Union was a large encampment built around Nuremberg? What two alliances' conflicts resulted in the Thirty Years' War? Which event happened first, the  Catholic counter-alliance, or the Union with the Empire? Which group won the Battle of the Alte Veste, Franconia or Swedes? Which happened later, the forming of the League or the Battle of the Alte Veste? Who led the troops that lost the Battle of the Alte Veste against Wallenstein's troops?