Battle of Lützen
The Battle of Lützen, fought on November 16, 1632, was a significant engagement during the Thirty Years' War, marking a pivotal moment for both Swedish and Imperial forces. General Albrecht Wenzel von Wallenstein quickly mobilized his troops to defend against the approaching Swedish army, which numbered around 18,000. The battle commenced in thick fog, complicating visibility and tactics. Despite initial setbacks, Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus, known for his dynamic leadership, encouraged his troops but was ultimately killed in the conflict. This loss had a profound impact on the Swedish forces, who, despite inflicting approximately 12,000 casualties on Wallenstein's Imperial army and emerging victorious, found themselves without decisive leadership afterward. The aftermath of the battle led to increased Imperial success and prompted direct French intervention in the ongoing war. The events at Lützen underscore the complexities of military leadership and the shifting dynamics of power during one of Europe's most tumultuous periods.
On this Page
Battle of Lützen
Type of action: Ground battle in the Thirty Years’ War
Date: November 16, 1632
Location: Lützen, ten miles north of Leipzig in Saxony (north central Germany)
Combatants: 18,000 Swedish Protestants vs. 28,000 Imperialist Catholics
Principal commanders:Swedish/Protestant, Swedish king Gustavus II Adolphus (1594–1632); Imperial/Catholic, General Albrecht Wenzel von Wallenstein (1583–1634)
Result: A tactical victory for the Swedes that forced Wallenstein to retreat to Bohemia
Having already sent his army into winter quarters, General Albrecht Wenzel von Wallenstein learned on November 15, 1632, that the Swedish army was approaching. He quickly recalled his scattered forces and prepared a defensive line with his right anchored on the town of Lützen and his line behind hastily erected fortifications. When the Swedish army of 18,000 attacked in a thick fog at 8 a.m. on November 16, visibility was virtually nonexistent. The Swedish right pushed Imperial forces back, but the recalled Imperialists arrived in time to stabilize that flank. On the Swedish left, Gustavus II Adolphus rode forward to encourage his troops but was killed when he rode into an enemy formation. News of the king’s death resulted in a savage onslaught by Swedish forces, and Wallenstein was driven from the field. The Swedish army suffered about 10,000 casualties while inflicting about 12,000 on the Imperial army.
Significance
Although Lützen was a Swedish (Protestant) victory, the death of Gustavus left Protestant forces bereft of dynamic leadership. Lack of a strategic vision led to Imperial success and to direct French intervention in the Thirty Years’ War.
Bibliography
Fuller, J. F. C. “The Battles of Breitenfeld and Lützen, 1631 and 1632.” In The Decisive Battles of the Western World. Vol. 2. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1961.
Parrott, D. A. “Strategy and Tactics in the Thirty Years’ War: The Military Revolution.” Militärgeschichtliche Mitteilungen 18, no. 2 (1985): 7–25.
Roberts, Michael. Gustavus Adolphus. 2 vols. 2d ed. New York: Longman, 1992.