Sack of Magdeburg

Sack of Magdeburg
Part of the Swedish phase of the Thirty Years' War
b/w print showing walled city ablaze in the background; many armed men approach from left; cannons are firing from left foreground; text box in bottom center
Sack of Magdeburg, 1632 engraving by D. Manasser, putting the blame on the citizens' disobedience
Date20–24 May 1631
Location52°08′N 11°37′E / 52.133°N 11.617°E / 52.133; 11.617
Result Catholic victory
Territorial
changes
Magdeburg is destroyed by the Catholics
Belligerents
Holy Roman Empire
Catholic League
Magdeburg
Commanders and leaders
Count of Tilly
Graf zu Pappenheim
Dietrich von Falkenberg 
Christian William (POW)
Strength
24,000 during the siege
40,000 during the sack
2,400
Casualties and losses
  • 300 killed
  • 1,600 wounded[1]: 471 
25,000 defenders and inhabitants
Magdeburg is located in Saxony-Anhalt
Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Location within Saxony-Anhalt
Magdeburg is located in Germany
Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg (Germany)

The sack of Magdeburg, also called Magdeburg's Wedding (German: Magdeburger Hochzeit) or Magdeburg's Sacrifice (Magdeburgs Opfergang), was the destruction of the Protestant city of Magdeburg on 20 May 1631 by the Imperial Army and the forces of the Catholic League, resulting in the deaths of around 20,000, including both defenders and non-combatants. The event is considered the worst massacre of the Thirty Years' War. Magdeburg, then one of the largest cities in Germany, having well over 25,000 inhabitants in 1630, did not recover its importance until well into the 18th century.