Lützen, Battle of

In the Thirty Years' War, Swedish victory 16 November 1632 over an Imperial army under Albrecht von Wallenstein 45 km/28 mi west of Leipzig, Germany. The Swedish army, about 19,000 troops was led by King Gustavus Adolphus who was killed in the battle.

Gustavus was marching from Naumburg when he heard that Wallenstein, at the head of a similar-sized force, had sent some of his troops off on a foraging expedition. He turned and advanced on Wallenstein, hoping to seize the opportunity to fall upon a weakened enemy.

Wallenstein's army was drawn up ready for battle. The Swedish cavalry, on the flanks of Gustavus' line, quickly defeated their opposite numbers; meanwhile the infantry, in the centre of the lines, had a long and bitter struggle, in which Gustavus Adolphus was killed, and the Imperial forces began to have some success. Prince Bernhard took command of the Swedes, rallied them, and regained the lost ground and guns. Wallenstein's cavalry then reappeared and battle was joined again; in the subsequent battle the cavalry's commander was killed. Swedish reserves were now thrown in and the Imperial forces were finally defeated. At nightfall, a thick fog descended and Wallenstein was able to disengage using the fog as cover. Although he managed to withdraw his troops from the field, he had to abandon his artillery.