Sweden's Greatest Chance during the Thirty Year War

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]In September 1631, the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus, bolstered by troops from Saxony, meets Count Tilly near a village called Breitenfeld.

[00:00:14]With nearly 40,000 on both sides, it is one of the largest battles of the Thirty Years War and a clash between two of its most celebrated commanders.

[00:00:26]Tilly's cavalry charges the Swedish right.

[00:00:29]They are met with devastating fire and are repulsed eight times.

[00:00:36]At the other end of the line, Catholic cavalry routes the Saxons on Gustavus' left flank.

[00:00:44]But as Catholic forces advance, a gap opens up between them, which Gustavus exploits with a devastating counterattack.

[00:00:54]Tilly is caught flat-footed. His ranks dissolve and flee, leaving at least 7,000 dead on the field, with almost as many taken prisoner.

[00:01:07]The Swede and Saxon dead number just over 2,000.

[00:01:13]Breitenfeld is a crushing victory for Gustavus and Tilly's first major defeat, a turning point that opens a pathway for the Swedes into the south.

[00:01:25]At Rain, Tilly tries to stop them but fails and the old Catholic general is mortally wounded. In July 1632, Gustavus has moved north again to Nuremberg.

[00:01:39]Wallenstein sets up camp nearby.

[00:01:43]Both sides struggle to find food and are ravaged by starvation and disease.

[00:01:49]Gustavus follows and offers battle near the town of Lützen.

[00:01:55]He needs a quick victory before Wallenstein can be reinforced.

[00:02:01]But a thick fog spoils his plan.

[00:02:04]In the chaos, Gustavus leads a cavalry charge, loses his way in the fog, and is killed.

[00:02:18]On paper, Lutzen is another Swedish victory, but the king's death is a grievous blow.

[00:02:27]The Protestant cause reels from the loss of the lion of the north, one of history's great military innovators and leaders.

[00:02:37]If Gustavus Adolphus had walked away from Lutzen, history may have been very different.