Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)
Breitenfeld, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
What happened
King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Elector John George I of Saxony fought the Catholic Imperial army led by Count Tilly and Gottfried zu Pappenheim. After Imperial troops destroyed the Protestant city of Magdeburg and invaded Saxony, Saxony joined Sweden. Near Breitenfeld, outside Leipzig, Tilly's horsemen quickly drove the Saxon army from the field. But the Swedes held firm with flexible units of musketeers and mobile cannons, beat back Pappenheim's cavalry, captured the Imperial guns and turned them on the enemy.
Why it matters
Result: Swedish-Saxon victory. Why it matters: It was the first major defeat of the Catholic side in the Thirty Years' War, which had been going on for 13 years.
What came next
The Swedes captured Erfurt on 22 September and Würzburg on 5 October 1631.
Did you know?
Sweden entered the war in June 1630, when nearly 18,000 soldiers under Gustavus Adolphus landed in Pomerania.
Timeline
- June 1630 CEGustavus Adolphus lands in Pomerania.
- 17 September 1631 CESweden and Saxony defeat Tilly at Breitenfeld.
- 22 September 1631 CEThe Swedes capture Erfurt.
- 5 October 1631 CEThe Swedes capture Würzburg.