Battle of Lutter
Lutter am Barenberge, Lower Saxony, Germany
What happened
King Christian IV of Denmark–Norway fought the Imperial and Catholic League army under Count Tilly. Christian's army was retreating through rain and mud and short of supplies, so he chose to stand at Lutter. His cavalry attacked too early, and Tilly's guns waited until the Danes were close before firing. Tilly then struck the Danish centre and rear, and the Danish line collapsed.
Why it matters
It ended Christian's hopes of gaining land in Germany, and many of his German allies left him. The town's page calls it a rout that changed the course of the war.
What came next
By 1627 the Danes had been pushed out of the Empire. Denmark made peace at Lübeck in 1629.
Did you know?
Tilly's gunners held their fire until the Danes were about 100 metres away.
Timeline
- 25 Apr 1626Battle of Dessau Bridge.
- 27 Aug 1626Battle of Lutter.
- Oct 1627Danes expelled from the Empire.
- 22 May 1629Treaty of Lübeck.