Battle of Breitenfeld (1642)

Not to be confused with Battle of Breitenfeld (1631).
For the Battle of the Nations during the Napoleonic Wars, see Battle of Leipzig.
Second Battle of Breitenfeld
Part of the Thirty Years' War

Contemporary engraving depicting the battle
Date2 November 1642 (N.S.)[1]
Location
Breitenfeld, Saxony (present-day Germany)
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Sweden  Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Sweden Lennart Torstensson
Sweden Arvid Wittenberg
Sweden Erik Slang  †
Sweden Johan Lilliehöök  †		 Holy Roman Empire Archduke Leopold Wilhelm
Holy Roman Empire Ottavio Piccolomini
Holy Roman Empire Annibale Gonzaga
Holy Roman Empire Hans Christoph von Puchheim
Holy Roman Empire Ernst Roland von Suys  (POW)
Strength

20,000

  • 10,000 infantry[2]
  • 10,000 cavalry[2]
70 guns

26,000

  • 10,000 infantry[3]
  • 16,000 cavalry[3]
46 guns
Casualties and losses

4,000

  • 2,000 killed[4]
  • 2,000 wounded[4]

8,000–9,500

  • 3,000–5,000 dead or wounded[4][5]
  • 4,500–5,000 captured[4][5]
46 guns

The Second Battle of Breitenfeld, also known as the First Battle of Leipzig, took place during the Thirty Years' War on 2 November 1642 at Breitenfeld, north-east of Leipzig in Germany. A Swedish Army commanded by Lennart Torstensson decisively defeated an Imperial Army under Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria and his deputy Ottavio Piccolomini.[6]

Victory allowed the Swedes to occupy and establish a secure base in Leipzig, the second most important town in the Electorate of Saxony. However, although significantly weakened by the defeat and forced onto the defensive, the Imperial Army prevented them from fully exploiting their victory and kept John George I, Elector of Saxony from making peace with Sweden.

  1. ^ Wilson 2011, p. 636.
  2. ^ a b Guthrie 2003, p. 115.
  3. ^ a b Guthrie 2003, p. 116.
  4. ^ a b c d Clodfelter 2017, p. 41.
  5. ^ a b Wilson 2011, p. 638.
  6. ^ The second battle was 11 years after the first battle at the crossroads village where the Swedish forces under Gustavus II Adolphus had handed Field Marshal Count Tilly his first major defeat on the same plain.