Battle of the Alte Veste

Coordinates: 49°27′10″N 10°57′55″E / 49.45278°N 10.96528°E / 49.45278; 10.96528

Battle of Alte Veste
Part of the Thirty Years' War
The Alte Veste in 1705, by Johann Alexander Boener.
Date August 31, 1632 (O.S.) [1] September 9, 1632 (N.S.) [1] Location Alte Veste, southwest of Nürnberg (present-day Germany) Result Swedish defeat, Lennart Torstensson, Swedish Artillery Commander, captured
Belligerents
Sweden	Holy Roman Empire Catholic League
Commanders and leaders
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden	Albrecht von Wallenstein
Strength
45, 430 men 30,011 infantry in 37 regiments and 306 companies. 15, 419 cavalry in 39 regiments and 263+ companies[2]	40,000 men
Casualties and losses
~4,000 killed or wounded[3]	~2,000 killed or wounded[3]

The Battle of the Alte Veste was a significant battle of the Thirty Years' War.

Background

In the late summer of 1632 the army of Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus met Albrecht von Wallenstein near Nürnberg. The successes of Gustavus Adolphus over General Tilly forced Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II to recall Albrecht von Wallenstein into military service from retirement. Wallenstein was unmatched in his ability to raise troops, and within a few weeks he took to the field with a fresh army.

The Imperial Army's ranks swelled as Wallenstein moved to stop the Swedes advance at Nuremberg. Repeatedly, Gustav Adolf formed for battle and challenged Wallenstein to come out of his fortified camp, but was refused. As the supply situation continued to worsen, the impetuous King grew desperate.

Attack

He attacked the Imperial camp at the Alte Veste (or "Old Fortress")—a derelict castle situated atop a wooded hill. Its ownership would then allow the Swedish guns to dominate the Imperial camp. The Imperials were prepared with trenches and an abatis that stymied the Swedish advance. When the vaunted brigades faltered, much of the cavalry was sent in dismounted. Wallenstein saw an opportunity to strike a blow and sallied his cavalry and cut down many of the exhausted troops. Only the final introduction of the Swedish cavalry reserve was able to avert a complete disaster.

Result

The Swedes had been defeated. The Commander of the Swedish artillery, Lennart Torstenson, was taken prisoner and locked up for nearly a year at Ingolstadt. Gustav Adolf received reinforcements days later and Wallenstein left camp and moved north.

References