Battles & Campaigns · 1648
Battle of Zusmarshausen
Zusmarshausen, Bavaria, Germany
What happened
A French and Swedish army under Carl Gustaf Wrangel and Turenne attacked an Imperial and Bavarian army under Peter Melander and Raimondo Montecuccoli. Swedish troops attacked Montecuccoli's rearguard at Zusmarshausen. He held them off and fell back, and the main army came back to rescue him. Night ended the fight, and the Imperial army withdrew to Augsburg.
Why it matters
It was the last major battle of the Thirty Years' War fought on German soil. Montecuccoli's stubborn rearguard saved the Imperial army from destruction.
What came next
The Peace of Westphalia was signed that October, ending the war.
Did you know?
Montecuccoli and Turenne met again as opponents more than 20 years later.
Timeline
- 17 May 1648Battle of Zusmarshausen.
- 25 Jul 1648Swedes seize part of Prague.
- 24 Oct 1648Peace of Westphalia signed.