Encyclopedia > Battle of Nördlingen (1634)
Battle of Nördlingen (1634)
| Battle of Nördlingen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dates of battle | September 5 & September 6, 1634 | |
| Conflict | Thirty Years' War | |
| Battle before | Battle of Lützen (1632) | |
| Battle after | Battle of Wittstock | |
| Site of battle | near Nördlingen, Germany[?] | |
| Combatant 1 | Sweden, Saxony | |
| led by | Field Marshal Gustav Horn, Duke Bernhard of Saxe Weimar[?] | |
| Forces | 16000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, and 20 guns | |
| Combatant 2 | Holy Roman Empire | |
| led by | Ferdinand of Austria, Cardinal-Infante of Spain[?], King Ferdinand of Hungary, General Matthias Gallas[?] | |
| Forces | 21000 infantry, 14000 cavalry, and 60 guns | |
| result | decisive Catholic victory | |
Prelude After the Protestant victory at Lutzen, 2 years before, the Swedes failed to follow up their victory due to the death of their King Gustavus Adolphus. As a result, the Imperial forces regained the initiative. In 1634 they occupied the town of Regensburg. Threatening to advance further into Saxony, they started to besiege Nördlingen[?]. The Protestants realized they had to make some attempt to relieve the town, and planned a night attack.
Description of the battle The Protestant's intended assault went wrong when their forces got cluttred up with artillery and supply wagons in front of the infantry. This gave the imperial forces time to prepare. Swedish infantry ended up in an unsupported attack on the Imperial positions. Nevertheless they pushed on and succeeded in driving back one Imperial flank. The Imperial commander responded by a coordinated attack on the Saxon lines, which broke and collapsed. Horn was captured, and the Protestant allies lost 12-14.000 men.
Aftermath This battle marked the end of Swedish interference in the Thirty Years War. With Imperial forces threatening dominance in Germany, France stepped in.
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