Battles & Campaigns · 1626
Battle of Dessau Bridge
Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
What happened
A Protestant army under Ernst von Mansfeld, allied with Denmark, attacked Imperial and Catholic League troops under Albrecht von Wallenstein. In the Thirty Years' War, Mansfeld tried to cross the bridge over the Elbe at Dessau to reach Magdeburg. Imperial troops had got there first and set up heavy guns. When Wallenstein's main army arrived, Mansfeld's men were overpowered and retreated.
Why it matters
The bridge was the only land route between Magdeburg and Dresden. Holding it made the Danish advance much harder.
What came next
Later that year, Tilly defeated the Danish king Christian IV at Lutter.
Did you know?
In Vienna there was even talk of replacing Wallenstein as commander.
Timeline
- 25 Apr 1626Battle of Dessau Bridge.
- 27 Aug 1626Battle of Lutter.
- Nov 1626Mansfeld dies.