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Why did Ferdinand II allow Albrecht von Wallenstein to expand his army to 70,000 men?
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Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein, portrait by Anthony van Dyck, 1629; in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich.
Ferdinand II permitted Albrecht von Wallenstein to expand his army to 70,000 men primarily as a concession to ensure Wallenstein remained in his service. After the successful defeat of the Protestant commander Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld, near Dessau in 1626, Wallenstein had tendered his resignation due to criticisms regarding his handling of the battle. To convince him to stay and continue his military campaigns, the emperor agreed to extend his powers and authorize this significant increase in troop numbers.1