In 1621, Alsace was on the eve of the Thirty Years' War. The region was a mosaic of states with a fairly united and Catholic south under the Habsburgs. The conflict led to famines, epidemics, and destructions by the mercenaries and the Swedish armies. After a 52-day siege, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle was ravaged by flames and partially destroyed. The Thirty Years' War was a tragedy for Alsace, whose population was decimated from 30 to 50%. Almost one village out of ten disappeared, and the economy was in ruin.