Battle of Breitenfeld
Part of the Thirty Years' War
Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle at Breitenfeld .
Date September 7 (O.S.)/September 17 (N.S.), 1631 Location Breitenfeld, Saxony, north of Leipzig, Germany Result Decisive Swedish victory
Combatants
Sweden  Saxony	Holy Roman Empire Catholic League
Commanders
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden John George I, Elector of Saxony Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis	Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly
Strength
Sweden 23,500 Saxony 18,000 (deserted during onset of battle)	35,000
Casualties
5,500 dead/wounded	7,600 dead 6,000 captured 12,400 deserted 3000 wounded

The Battle of Breitenfeld (German: Schlacht bei Breitenfeld; Swedish: Slaget vid Breitenfeld) was a battle fought near Leipzig on September 7 (old style) September 17 (new style), 1631. Under the leadership of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the Protestant forces achieved their first major victory during the Thirty Years Wars. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... from Swedish Wikipedia The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Gustav II Adolph Gustav II Adolph (December 9, 1594 - November 6, 1632) (also known as Gustav Adolph the Great, under the Latin name Gustavus Adolphus or the Swedish form Gustav II Adolf) was a King of Sweden. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston. ... Breitenfeld is a town in the Landkreis of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ... Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DED Capital Dresden Minister-President Georg Milbradt (CDU) Governing parties CDU / SPD Votes in Bundesrat 4 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  18,416 km² (7,110 sq mi) Population 4,252,000 (11/2006)[1]  - Density 231 /km... Leipzig ( ; Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk from the Sorbian word for Tilia) is, with a population of over 506,000, the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saxony. ... Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DED Capital Dresden Minister-President Georg Milbradt (CDU) Governing parties CDU / SPD Votes in Bundesrat 4 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  18,416 km² (7,110 sq mi) Population 4,252,000 (11/2006)[1]  - Density 231 /km... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The extent of the Holy Roman Empire around 1630, superimposed over modern European state borders Capital None Language(s) Latin, German, many others Religion Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy Emperor  - 962–967 Otto I  - 973–983 Otto II  - 996–1002 Otto III  - 1014– 1024 Henry II  - 1027–1039 Conrad II  - 1046... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Catholic League (German: ) was a confederation of Catholic German states formed in order to counteract the Protestant Union. ... Gustav II Adolf King of Sweden Gustav II Adolf (also known as Gustaf Adolf the Great (Swedish Gustav Adolf den store, Latin Gustavus Adolphus Magnus), or Gustavus II Adolphus; December 9, 1594 – November 6, 1632 O.S.), widely known by the Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus and referred to by contemporary... John George I (5 March 1585 - 8 October 1656), elector of Saxony, second son of the elector Christian I. He succeeded to the electorate in June 1611 on the death of his elder brother, Christian II. The geographical position of electoral Saxony hardly less than her high standing among the... Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis (d . ... Count Tilly on a portrait by van Dyck Bronze statue of Count Tilly in the Feldherrnhalle in Munich Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (Nivelles,February 1559 - Ingolstadt, April 30, 1632) was a General (Field Marshal) who commanded the Imperial and Holy Roman Empires forces in the Thirty Years War... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Siege of Plzeň or Battle of Pilsen was a siege of the fortified city of Plzeň in Bohemia carried out by the forces of the Bohemian Protestants led by Ernst von Mansfeld. ... The Battle of Záblatí, in some sources also battle of Sablat, occurred on 10 June 1619 during the Bohemian period of the Thirty Years War. ... The Battle of VÄ›stonice, or Battle of Wisternitz, was fought on August 5, 1619 between a Bohemian force and an Austrian army under Dampierre. ... The Battle of White Mountain, November 8, 1620 (Bílá hora is the name of White Mountain in Czech) was an early battle in the Thirty Years War in which an army of 20,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 25,000 men of the... The Battle of Wiesloch was fought on April 27, 1622, near the German village of Wiesloch, south of Heidelberg, between a Protestant army under Count von Mansfeld and the margrave of Baden against a Catholic army under count Tilly. ... Combatants Protestants Holy Roman Empire, Catholic League Commanders Friedrich of Baden Count of Tilly, Gonzales de Córdoba Strength 14000 app. ... The Battle of Höchst was fought on June 22, 1622 between Catholics and Protestants. ... Combatants Protestants Catholic League Commanders Graf von Mansfeld, Christian of Brunswick Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba While an allied Catholic army of Spanish and Bavarian troops prepared to fully occupy the Palatinate, a second Spanish army under the command of Ambrosio Spinola besieged the town of Bergen op Zoom... Combatants Protestants Catholic League Commanders Christian of Brunswick Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly Strength 15000 app. ... Combatants Protestants Catholic League Commanders Count Ernst von Mansfeld General Albrecht von Wallenstein Strength 12,000 20,000 Casualties 4,000 dead, wounded, or captured Unknown With the entrance of King Christian IV of Denmark into the Thirty Years War in 1625, Protestant forces that had been dealt one defeat... The Battle of Lutter (Lutter am Barenberge) took place during the Thirty Years War on 27th August 1626 between the forces of the Protestant Christian IV of Denmark and those of the Catholic League. ... Combatants Scotland Sweden Holy Roman Empire Commanders Unknown Albrecht von Wallenstein The Battle of Stralsund was a battle of the Thirty Years War, fought starting July 5, 1628 between the Holy Roman Empire and an alliance of the Swedes, Scots, and the inhabitants of Stralsund. ... The Battle of Wolgast was fought on August 12, 1628 in Wolgast, Germany. ... During the Thirty Years War the city of Magdeburg was besieged by the Holy Roman Empires Imperial Army from November 1630 to 20 May 1631 in the Sack of Magdeburg. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... On April 15, 1632, Swedish troops (40. ... The Battle of the Alte Veste was one of the most decisive battles of the Thirty Years War. ... The Battle of Lützen was one of the most decisive battles of the Thirty Years War. ... Combatants Sweden Saxony Holy Roman Empire Spain Commanders Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Gustav Horn Cardinal-Infante of Spain Ferdinand of Hungary Matthias Gallas Strength 16,300 infantry 9,300 cavalry 54 guns 20,000 infantry 13,000 cavalry 32 guns Casualties 13,000–15,000 dead or wounded 3,500... The Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna, with his Saxon and Catholic allies, was contesting Northern Germany with the Protestant princes, championed by the Swedes. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Jean François de La Guiche Francisco de Melo Strength 7,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 10 guns 13,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 20 guns Casualties 3,200 dead 500 wounded 3,400 captured 500 dead or wounded The Battle of Honnecourt was a battle... Combatants  Sweden  Holy Roman Empire Commanders Lennart Torstenson Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, Ottavio Piccolomini Casualties 4,000 killed and wounded 15,000 killed and wounded 5,000 prisoners The Second Battle of Breitenfeld (October 23, 1642), also known as the First Battle of Leipzig, took place at Breitenfeld (4... Combatants France Spain Commanders Duc dEnghien Francisco de Melo Count of Fuentes † Strength 16,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 14 guns 15,000 infantry 5,000 cavalry 18 guns Casualties 2,000 dead 2,000 wounded[1] 7,500 dead, 7,000 captured and 6, 500 wounded[2] The... The Battle of Tuttlingen was fought in Tuttlingen on November 24, 1213. ... The Battle of Freiburg, also called the Three Day Battle, took place on August 3, August 5 and August 9, 1644 as part of the Thirty Years War. ... The Battle of Jüterbog was fought in November of 1644 between Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire. ... The Battle of Jankov (or Jankau) was fought by the Swedish army some 50 km SSE of Prague on February 23, 1645 during the Thirty Years War. ... The Battle of Herbsthausen, or the Battle of Mergentheim according to Clausewitz, was fought in Herbsthausen (near Mergentheim) on May 2, 1645. ... This article is about the second Battle of Nördlingen fought in 1645 in Germany as part of the Thirty Years War. ... The Battle of Zusmarshausen was fought on May 7, 1648 between the Holy Roman Empire and an alliance of France and Sweden. ... The Battle of Lens (August 20, 1648) was a French victory under Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé against the Spanish army under Archduke Leopold in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). ... The last action of the Thirty Years War. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... Leipzig ( ; Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk from the Sorbian word for Tilia) is, with a population of over 506,000, the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston. ... Gustav II Adolf King of Sweden Gustav II Adolf (also known as Gustaf Adolf the Great (Swedish Gustav Adolf den store, Latin Gustavus Adolphus Magnus), or Gustavus II Adolphus; December 9, 1594 – November 6, 1632 O.S.), widely known by the Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus and referred to by contemporary... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian... Combatants Sweden Bohemia Denmark-Norway Dutch Republic France Scotland England Saxony Holy Roman Empire (Catholic League) Spain Austria Bavaria Commanders Frederick V Gustav II Adolf â€  Johan Baner Cardinal Richelieu Louis II de Bourbon Turenne Christian IV of Denmark Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Johann Georg I of Saxony Johann Tzerclaes, count...

The victory confirmed the Swedish king as a great tactical leader and induced many Protestant German states to ally with Sweden against Catholic Austria. Tactics is the collective name for methods of winning a small-scale conflict, performing an optimization, etc. ... Germany is a federation of 16 states called Länder (singular Land, which may be translated as country) or unofficially Bundesländer (singular Bundesland, German federal state). ...

Gustavus reforms the army

After coming to power, Gustavus had campaigned in Poland and Prussia with mixed results. Using "classical" formations of pike and shot and cavalry armed with pistols and sabres, Gustavus suffered a number of reverses at the hands of the Polish and Russian cavalry. After concluding a temporary peace and returning to Sweden, Gustavus set about reforming his army, first using the more modern "Dutch formations", and then adding several innovations of his own. For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... A 16th century pamphlet showing a mixed pike and shot formation. ...

Primary among these was the abandoning of the traditional "pike square" for a more rectangular formation. In the traditional square, muskets at the rear or sides of the formation could not fire effectively due to the ranks in front. The Dutch had thinned out their formations to place more men at the front, a concept Gustavus took much further, turning his formations into rectangles only six ranks deep (as opposed to ten or more). Additionally, whereas the typical pike-and-shot formation placed the shot on the flanks of a full pike square in the middle, Gustavus placed most of the shot at the front, with the pike at the sides strictly in support. He also placed small cannons, or infantry guns among the units. This allowed them to continue to have cannon support even if the battalion became detached from the main force, and isolated from the field guns that were normally at the center of the field. These changes also made the formations much easier to maneuver on the battlefield; whereas the squares could easily turn to face a new direction, their line of march was typically fixed. Gustavus' formations could easily be re-aligned, although at the cost of some confusion while the pikemen reformed on the shot's flanks. Infantry support guns are artillery designed for direct-fire against infantry targets. ...

Another major change was to the cavalry. In traditional battle lines the cavalry lined up on either side of the primary infantry force, protecting their flanks. In most battles, the cavalry forces would attempt to drive off the opposing force, exposing the infantry's flank. In order to upset the balance of what was largely one-on-one combat, Gustavus mixed musketmen among the cavalry in their "starting positions" on the flanks. This allowed opposing cavalry to be attacked at long range, before their pistols became useful. Normally detached infantry would be easily run down, but by being placed in the midst of the cavalry, if the opposing force did rush they would do so right into the Swedish cavalry's own pistols.

Prelude

Gustavus was considered a minor concern in western Europe, as his only battles to this point were the inconclusive ones against the Poles. When he landed with a force of 13,000 men at Peenemünde in 1630, the commander of the Imperial Commander and Champion of the German Catholic League, Tilly, did not immediately respond, being engaged in what seemed to be more pressing matters. Over the next few months Gustavus was able to consolidate his bridgehead and moved to expand out across northern Germany, gaining mercenary forces along the way and expanding his army to 24,000 men. Peenemündes position in Germany Peenemünde is a village in the northeast of the German (Western) part of the Usedom island. ... The Catholic League (German: ) was a confederation of Catholic German states formed in order to counteract the Protestant Union. ... Count Tilly on a portrait by van Dyck Bronze statue of Count Tilly in the Feldherrnhalle in Munich Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (Nivelles,February 1559 - Ingolstadt, April 30, 1632) was a General (Field Marshal) who commanded the Imperial and Holy Roman Empires forces in the Thirty Years War...

In late August 1631 Tilly invaded Electoral Saxony in hopes of forcing its ruler, John George I, to abandon an alliance he planned to conclude with Gustavus. The Swedish king responded by uniting his army with the elector's 18,000-man forces, hoping to fight Tilly and force him to leave Saxony. Tilly arrayed his forces north of Leipzig at Breitenfeld and prepared to meet Gustavus Adolphus. The subject of this article was previously also known as Saxony. ... John George I (5 March 1585 - 8 October 1656), elector of Saxony, second son of the elector Christian I. He succeeded to the electorate in June 1611 on the death of his elder brother, Christian II. The geographical position of electoral Saxony hardly less than her high standing among the... Leipzig ( ; Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk from the Sorbian word for Tilia) is, with a population of over 506,000, the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. ...

Forming up

The Imperial and Catholic League forces arranged their army in regiments of infantry and cavalry. The infantry formed up in large blocks of about 1500 men each, with a front of 150 men and a depth of 10 men. The center comprised pikemen with supporting units of musketeers on each flank. The Imperial army comprised fourteen such formations, twelve arranged in groups of three blocks, with the center block placed slightly ahead of the other two. The final two regiments were attached one each to the right and left wings. The cavalry was drawn up on each flank; Pappenheim commanding the left, and Fürstenburg, the right. The left flank was close by Breitenfeld; the right, by Seehausen. Tilly had no reserves except for some cavalry placed behind his infantry. A modern recreation of a mid-17th century company of pikemen. ... For other uses of this term, see Musketeer (disambiguation). ... Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim Pappenheim Letter of Wallenstein, asking for help Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim (May 29, 1594 – November 17, 1632), imperial field marshal in the Thirty Years War, was born at the little town of Pappenheim on the Altmühl, in Bavaria, the seat of a free...

Gustavus Adolphus, however, arranged his forces in two long lines. Each line was five men deep for pikemen, and six men deep for musketeers. The use of linear tactics enabled Gustavus to create a front that matched Tilly's, while still giving him troops to keep in reserve. The Elector of Saxony arranged his forces in the traditional formation on the Swedish left, and all commanders placed most of their cavalry on their flanks. Since the Swedish and Saxon forces deployed separately, this placed cavalry in their center as well as on their flanks.

Battle

Battle of Breitenfeld - Initial dispositions, 17 September 1631

The battle began around noon with a two hour exchange of artillery fire, during which the Swedish fire power was demonstrated in a rate of fire of three-to-five volleys to one. This uneven exchange ended when Count Pappenheim led a charge of the heavy cavalry on Tilly's left. These cuirassiers advanced seven times, but each time was turned back by the Swedes, who's muskets proved upsetting. Swedish reserve cavalry were also able to extend the Swedish line and countercharge with sabers against the Imperial cavalry. Following the defeat of his seventh assault, Pappenheim and his cavalry quit the field in disarray, retreated to Halle. He was initially pursued by some Swedish cavalry, but these were called back by Gustavus while the Swedish guns continued to pound the troops of the Catholic League. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1097 × 852 pixel, file size: 64 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Initial dispositions, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1097 × 852 pixel, file size: 64 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Initial dispositions, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an... Fire power is a military concept rooted in the ability to direct a heavy weight of metal onto an enemy or enemy possesion as measured by the concept of rate of fire. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... French cuirassier armour, 1854 Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. ... , Halle (also called Halle an der Saale (literally Halle on the Saale, and in some historic references is not uncommonly called Saale after the river) in order to distinguish it from Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia) is the largest city in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. ...

Battle of Breitenfeld - Opening moves, 17 September 1631

During this time, Tilly's infantry remained stationary, but then the cavalry on his right charged the Saxon cavalry and routed it towards Eilenburg. Seeing an opportunity, Tilly sent the majority of his infantry against the remaining Saxon forces in an oblique march diagonally across his front, and the whole Saxon body fled the field and stopped only briefly to loot the Swedish camp. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 771 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1101 × 856 pixel, file size: 68 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Opening moves, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 771 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1101 × 856 pixel, file size: 68 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Opening moves, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an...

Battle of Breitenfeld - Stopping the attack, 17 September 1631

Tilly thus defeated forty percent of his enemy and was poised to deliver a devastating flank attack on the Swedish forces. As Tilly was ordering his infantry to roll up the Swedish line, however, Gustavus was able to reorder his second line into an array at a right angle to the front, in a maneuver known as refusing the flank. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1097 × 852 pixel, file size: 64 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Stopping the attack, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1097 × 852 pixel, file size: 64 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Stopping the attack, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as...

Battle of Breitenfeld - Annihilation, 17 September 1631

While this was taking place, the Swedish cavalry (the Finnish Hakkapeliittas) re-formed, and then attacked across the former front to capture the Imperial artillery. This freed up the Swedish field guns, along with captured Imperial guns, who re-deployed into a new line on what was now the extreme right flank of the developing battle. With these guns cutting into one end of Tilly's line, and the Swedish center showing no signs of breaking, the exchange of gunfire soon wore down the Imperial troops, and their lines broke. Tilly was injured in ensuing retreat. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1085 × 843 pixel, file size: 65 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Annihilation, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an original... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 772 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1085 × 843 pixel, file size: 65 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Description  Battle of Breitenfeld - Annihilation, 17 September 1631 Author/Source  The Department of History, United States Military Academy Licensing  In the public domain as an original... Hakkapeliitta (also known as Hackapelit, Hackapelite, Haccapelit or Haccapelite), was the name given in Germany to the Finnish horsemen of King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden during the Thirty Years War. ...

Aftermath

The Battle of Breitenfeld served as major endorsement of the linear tactics of Gustavus Adolphus. He was able to inflict more than sixty percent casualties on his opponent, and made up his own losses in recruited prisoners. After the battle, the Catholic League or Imperial army under Tilly only had 6,000 men left. Gustavus Adolphus, on the other hand, had a greater army after the battle than before. The battle's outcome also had the political effect of convincing Protestant states to join his cause. France later supported the militarily strong but economically weak Sweden—from 1630 to 1632, the cost of Gustavus' army was shorted by 80%, but the strength was increased to over 350%.^{[citation needed]}

References