Magdeburg, Sack of

During the Thirty Years' War, Imperial victory over the Swedes on 20 May 1631 at Magdeburg, Germany. The Swedes had captured Magdeburg in 1629, holding the city with a small garrison until an Imperial force under Count Tilly arrived in early 1631. He besieged it for five months, finally storming the city in May 1631 to forestall the arrival of Swedish reinforcements. Tilly's troops then sacked the city and massacred most of the population. Magdeburg itself was set on fire, leaving only the cathedral standing.