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Die Katholische Bund
Die Katholische Bund (English: The Catholic League), commonly referred to as simply Der Bund, is a Catholic militia formed in 1618 during the early years of the Thirty Years' War. Founded by the visionary German priest-commander Father Adalbert von Köln, the Bund took on the role of defending Catholic communities from Protestant forces. Under Father Adalbert's skilled leadership, the Bund grew rapidly to a force of 40,000 highly-trained and devoted soldiers.

Origins and early missions
As the religious wars in the Holy Roman Empire escalated, many German Catholic regions found themselves vulnerable without strong defenses. Father Adalbert recognized the need to organize military forces to counter the growing Protestant threat. Drawing on his experience fighting Ottoman invaders in Hungary, Adalbert established a disciplined yet passionate fighting unit that could mobilize quickly yet remain under tight centralized control. The Bund swore an oath of loyalty directly to Kaiser Ferdinand II and the House of Habsburg.

In its early years, the Bund participated in numerous successful campaigns to beat back Calvinist forces. This greatly boosted the Bund's prestige while striking fear into its opponents. Father Adalbert's charismatic leadership style fused intense Catholic piety with military cunning. He is credited for developing the Bund's doctrines of defense, obedience, and expansion that have guided it ever since.

Branching out across Europe
To further spread Catholic influence, Father Adalbert established overseas branches of the Bund. In 1624, the Bund's French branch La Ligue Catholique was formed under the command of General Louis-Romain de Bouschet. It fought numerous battles against the Huguenots and the ambitions of Cardinal Richelieu, who posed a threat to Habsburg interests. La Ligue Catholique gained fame for their 1628 assassination of Richelieu, a move that hampered French power for years.

Additional branches were later founded across Europe, including in Spain, Poland, and Italy. Wherever Habsburg rule or the Catholic faith faced opposition, the Bund could be counted on to dispatch dedicated troops to turn the tide. With the Bund's expansion, Father Adalbert cemented his status as one of the most influential clerics in the Holy Roman Empire and a close advisor to the Kaiser. The militia remains today as an elite fighting force integral to Imperial security.

Organization and doctrine
The Katholische Bund maintains a sophisticated command hierarchy modeled after the Imperial Army itself. At the top is the Bund's Supreme Commander (der Oberbefehlshaber), a position which Father Adalbert held for many years until his death in 1645. Below the Supreme Commander are legions divided between regional commands across Germany and other countries.

Each member of the Bund takes an oath of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They live communally and undergo intensive ideological and military training. The Bund preaches a doctrine of militarized Catholic crusading to strengthen the faith and empire. Non-violent missionary work also plays a part in its operations. By forging elite shock troops dedicated to the Habsburg cause, the Bund remains a formidable guarantor of the dynasty's power to this day.