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When we talk about military history, we usually mention important battles, famous military leaders, or the political and economic consequences of conflicts. Often overshadowed by these themes are those who were most affected by the fighting and who put their lives on the line - the common soldiers. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was a time when European battlefields were dominated by mercenaries - men who fought for money. They often accompanied their entire families on campaigns. What was life like for these men? What were the roles of women and children who found themselves in the army? And what was the environment in which these people moved? The lecture is based on period diaries, military regulations and manuals. It is taught by Mgr. et Mgr. Klára Andresová, PhD student at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and expert at the History Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The lecture took place on September 30, 2020 in the Central Library.