Lennart Torstensson (17 August 1603 – 7 April 1651), Swedish
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
and later Governor-General of Pomerania, Västergötland, Dalsland, Värmland and Halland. He adapted the use of
artillery
Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
on the battlefield, making it a more mobile weapon than previously known. Torstensson achieved important victories in the
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...
and in Sweden's war against Denmark (1643-45), which is named the
Torstenson War after him. The period of his supreme command marks one of the most successful chapters in the military history of the Swedish army.
Early career
He was born at Forstena manor in
Västergötland
Västergötland (), also known as West Gothland or the Latinized version Westrogothia in older literature, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish), situated in the southwest of Sweden.
Vä ...
. His parents were Märta Nilsdotter Posse and Torsten Lennartsson, of the noble house Forstena, who was supporter of
King Sigismund and, for a while, the commandant of
Älvsborg fortress. Young Lennart's parents fled to exile in the year of his birth because his father had confessed to being loyal to the deposed Sigismund. Lennart was taken care of by relatives - his father returned to Sweden only when Lennart was around twenty. His paternal uncle Anders Lennartsson was
Lord High Constable of Sweden and trusted by
Duke Charles, but he fell at the
Battle of Kircholm in 1605.
Military career
At the age of fifteen he became one of the pages of the young King
Gustavus Adolphus
Gustavus Adolphus (9 December N.S 19 December">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 19 December15946 November Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 16 November] 1632), also known in English as ...
and was allowed to observe the
Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629), military campaign in Livonia. He also served during the
Prussia
Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...
n campaigns of 1628 and 1629.
It is told that at one battle Gustavus Adolphus sent Torstensson with an order to one of the officers. On his way Torstensson noticed that the enemy had changed position, and he altered the King's orders correspondingly. Gustavus noticed the new development. When Torstensson returned he told Gustavus what he had done.
Shortly thereafter, in 1629 Torstensson was put in charge of the Swedish
artillery
Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
, which under his guidance contributed greatly to the victories of
Breitenfeld and
Lech. The same year he was taken prisoner at
Alte Veste and imprisoned for nearly a year at
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt (; Austro-Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian: ) is an Independent city#Germany, independent city on the Danube, in Upper Bavaria, with 142,308 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2023). Around half a million people live in the metropolitan ...
. Under
Johan Banér
Johan Banér (23 June 1596 – 10 May 1641) was a Swedish field marshal in the Thirty Years' War.
Early life
Johan Banér was born at Djursholm Castle in Uppland. As a four-year-old he was forced to witness the execution of his father, the ...
he served at the
Battle of Wittstock on the left wing of the combined army of Banér and
Field Marshal Alexander Leslie.
Steve Murdoch, Kathrin Zickermann and Adam Marks, "The Battle of Wittstock 1636: Conflicting Reports on a Swedish Victory in Germany" in Northern Studies, 43 (2012), pp.71-109
/ref> He also served with distinction during the defence of Pomerania
Pomerania ( ; ; ; ) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The central and eastern part belongs to the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, West Pomeranian, Pomeranian Voivod ...
in 1637 and 1638, as well as at the Battle of Chemnitz
The Battle of Chemnitz (14 April 1639, Gregorian calendar) took place near the town of Chemnitz, in Electorate of Saxony, during the Thirty Years' War. Swedish forces under Johan Banér inflicted a crushing defeat on Rodolfo Giovanni Marazzino ...
and the raid into Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...
in 1639. Illness, contracted during his imprisonment, compelled him to return to Sweden in 1641.
Field Marshal
The sudden death of Banér in May 1641 recalled Torstensson to Germany as generalissimo
''Generalissimo'' ( ), also generalissimus, is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to field marshal and other five-star ranks in the states where they are used.
Usage
The word (), an Italian term, is the absolute superlative ...
of the Swedish forces and Governor General of Pomerania
Pomerania ( ; ; ; ) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The central and eastern part belongs to the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, West Pomeranian, Pomeranian Voivod ...
. He was at the same time promoted to the rank of Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
. In 1642 he marched through Brandenburg
Brandenburg, officially the State of Brandenburg, is a States of Germany, state in northeastern Germany. Brandenburg borders Poland and the states of Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. It is the List of Ger ...
and Silesia
Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...
into Moravia
Moravia ( ; ) is a historical region in the eastern Czech Republic, roughly encompassing its territory within the Danube River's drainage basin. It is one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early ...
, taking the principal fortresses of Głogów and Olomouc
Olomouc (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 103,000 inhabitants, making it the Statutory city (Czech Republic), sixth largest city in the country. It is the administrative centre of the Olomouc Region.
Located on the Morava (rive ...
on his way. On returning through Saxony
Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a landlocked state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria, as well as the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Dresden, and ...
he crushed the imperial army at the second Battle of Breitenfeld on 23 October 1642.
In 1643 Torstensson invaded Moravia for the second time, but was suddenly recalled to invade Denmark, when his rapid and unexpected intervention paralysed the Danish defence on the land side, though Torstenson's own position in Jutland
Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...
was for a time precarious owing to the skilful handling of the Danish fleet by Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and King of Norway, Norway and List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days is th ...
. In 1644 he led his army for the third time into the heart of Germany and routed the imperials at the battle of Jüterbog on 3 December. In January 1645 he broke into Bohemia, and the destruction of the Imperial army at the Battle of Jankau on 6 March 1645 laid open before him the road to Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. He reached Korneuburg near the Habsburg capital in April but his exhausted army was unable to penetrate any further and lost 8,000 men in a failed siege of Brünn
Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
in Moravia
Moravia ( ; ) is a historical region in the eastern Czech Republic, roughly encompassing its territory within the Danube River's drainage basin. It is one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early ...
from 3 May to 23 August. Afterwards, the Swedish commander marched once more against Vienna but on 25 September turned to retreat back to northwestern Bohemia. On 23 December 1645, Torstensson, crippled by gout
Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...
, was forced to resign his command to Carl Gustaf Wrangel and returned to Sweden in the early summer of 1646.
In 1647 he was created a count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
. From 1648 to 1651 he ruled all the western provinces of Sweden, as Governor-General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
. After his death in Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
on 7 April 1651 he was buried in the Riddarholm Church, the Pantheon of Sweden.
Assessment
Torstensson was remarkable for the extraordinary and incalculable rapidity of his movements, though very frequently he had to lead the army in a litter, as his bodily infirmities would not permit him to mount his horse. He was often considered the most scientific artillery
Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
officer and most successful engineer in the Swedish army.
Family
Torstensson was married in 1633 to Baroness Beata De la Gardie (1612–1680), daughter of the Privy Councillor Johan De la Gardie (1582–1640) and Katarina Kristersdotter Oxenstierna (-1625). They had a son, Anders Torstenson, who also served as a Privy Councillor and Governor-General of Estonia.
Notes
References
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External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torstenson, Lennart
1603 births
1651 deaths
People from Vänersborg Municipality
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish nobility
Field marshals of Sweden
Members of the Privy Council of Sweden
Swedish engineers
Swedish military engineers
Generalissimos
Swedish military personnel of the Thirty Years' War
17th-century Swedish politicians
17th-century Swedish military personnel