Source:
Memoirs of Christina, Queen of Sweden, volume 1, pages 131 to 138, by Henry Woodhead, 1863; original at the University of Michigan
Kristina's letter of May 23/June 2 (Old Style), 1641 to Johan Kasimir is here:
The account:
Although Christina was only fifteen years old [sic], she fully appreciated the grave consequences that might ensue from the death of Banér at so critical a time. She wrote a letter to her uncle, the Prince Palatine, expressing her anxiety. She says, "I cannot conceal the bad news which has just arrived. Banér is dangerously ill, and not likely to recover. They do not think much about it here, and suppose that it will be easy to find one to take his place; but such men are not met with every day, and if he dies, our affairs will not go on well."
It was hardly to be expected that a successor should immediately be found who could take Banér's place. It was the fortune of Sweden to possess a man who even surpassed him in military ability — Leonard Torstenson.
Christina was, however, right in predicting the troubles which would follow the death of Banér. He had commanded an army composed of several different nations, which was, moreover, irregularly paid; but he had acquired such ascendancy over the soldiers as to be able always to keep them to their standards.
Immediately after his death, insurrections were threatened from all quarters. The different generals endeavoured to seize the command. The colonels formed a conspiracy to get more pay and more privileges. The men were mutinous and demanded their arrears. Torstenson had returned to Sweden on account of his health, and it was with reluctance that he again entered on active service, for which he believed himself unfit. Immediately on his arrival, he had an attack of gout, both in his hands and his feet, and the discontent of the soldiers increased at his consequent inaction. Secret negotiations were carried on with Austria by some officers of rank, and the whole army threatened to become disorganized.
The treason was discovered in a singular manner. Some papers relating to it were concealed in a stable. A kitten in search of playthings routed them out, when they were examined and taken to Torstenson.
A Swedish colonel named Seckendorf was arrested and condemned to death, but Torstenson, with a prudent generosity, declined to carry his investigations any further. He then began a series of movements which gave his troops no leisure for any more conspiracies.
He broke up his camp, and pretended to direct his march towards Westphalia, then turned suddenly about, and penetrated into Silesia, while the Imperial army was vainly seeking him in another direction.
Torstenson took Glogau, and was besieging Schweidnitz, when the Duke Francis Albert of Saxe-Lauenbourg attempted to relieve it. The Duke's force was completely routed, and he himself taken prisoner, mortally wounded.
Francis Albert was viewed with especial abhorrence by the Swedes, for in the earlier period of the war he had fought on their side, and it was believed that he had treacherously murdered Gustavus Adolphus at the battle of Lützen. It is at least certain that he was riding by the King's side at the time he received his death wound, and that he immediately afterwards deserted the Swedish service.
It cannot fail to be observed, as a curious coincidence, that the two warrior kings of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII. each fell in face of the enemy, but that in each case the fatal shot was supposed to have been fired by a traitor.
It was generally the policy of the Imperial commanders to avoid a battle when the forces were nearly equal, and it was almost always the policy of the Swedes to seek a battle under the same circumstances. For two months Torstenson constantly endeavoured to make Piccolomini fight; the latter, however, not only avoided a battle, but with great skill he took up a series of positions on the Riesengebirge, which could only be attacked at a great disadvantage, although his antagonist was thus prevented from penetrating into Bohemia. At last Torstenson was wearied with his obstinacy, and moved off to besiege Leipsic. This place was so important, that Piccolomini left his vantage ground to follow the Swedes. It was now Torstenson's turn to practise caution, for he did not wish to be shut in between the hostile fortress and so able a general: he therefore took up a position a short distance from Leipsic, at Breitenfeld.
The second battle of Leipsic took place on the same ground that the first battle had been fought, eleven years before, by Gustavus Adolphus, but the situation of the two armies was reversed, and the Swedes now held the ground which had been occupied by Tilly.
One of the first shots fired committed great havoc; it killed Torstenson's horse, knocked down that of Christina's cousin, Prince Charles Gustavus, and killed three officers of rank; but neither the General nor the Prince was injured by the fall he received. Slange, the Swedish Leonidas, was killed at the commencement of the battle, and his regiment fell into disorder, but was rallied by Charles Gustavus.
Wittenburg commanded the Swedish right wing, and was chiefly opposed to the Croats, who were more celebrated for their skill in marauding, than for their firmness in the day of battle. They fled at the first onset, although the Austrian regiments made a gallant and determined resistance.
The left flank of the Imperialists being thus disordered, Douglas was sent with four Scotch regiments to follow up the advantage. A fierce combat ensued. Liljehök endeavoured to cut off the Austrian regiments who were retreating to an entrenchment, but in his turn he was charged by a reserve of the Austrian Life Guards. The combat was once more doubtful, and Liljehök was left on the field mortally wounded. "Children", he said to his men, "I die content now that I have shown you the road; lay me down in the bushes." Charles Gustavus complied with his request, and then led a fresh charge, by which the formidable Life Guards were routed.
The battle raged with equal fury in the centre. One army burned to wipe off the defeat it had sustained on the same spot, the other army was equally eager to preserve its laurels. The Archduke fought like a common soldier, and Piccolomini led his regiment six times to the charge.
Their courage was in vain; the Imperialists were defeated along the whole line. Their cavalry fled. Their infantry took refuge in a wood, but it was so warmly cannonaded by the Swedes, that it was forced to take to the open again, where it was either captured or destroyed by the victorious cavalry. As soon as the battle was won, Charles Gustavus returned to the spot where he had left Liljehök. He was still alive, and inquired about the fortune of the day; he rejoiced at the victory of his countrymen, commended his wife and children to the care of the Prince, and prayed God to bless him, and his country through him. With these words on his lips the brave soldier died.
The Saxons had acquired the habit of thanking Heaven for successes by anticipation. During the battle they offered up their thanksgivings for the deliverance of Leipsic, but as the people came out of church they met crowds of the wounded, from whose accounts they found that their piety had again taken a wrong direction. All doubts were dispelled by the arrival of a Swedish trumpeter who came to summon the town, and Leipsic was glad to purchase immunity from plunder by a contribution of 150,000 rix-dollars.
Above: Kristina.
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Above: Johan Banér.
Above: Lennart Torstensson.
Above: Karl Gustav.
Notes: Glogau is the German name for the city of Głogów in what is now the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. Its name in Czech is Hlohov.
Riesengebirge is the German name for the Giant Mountains, a mountain range located in the north of what is now the Czech Republic and the southwest of Poland, part of the Sudeten mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massif). Its name in Czech is Krkonoše and in Polish is Karlonosze. The Czech-Polish border, which divides the historic regions of Bohemia and Silesia, runs along the main ridge. The highest peak, Sněžka (Snieżka; Schneekoppe), is the Czech Republic's highest natural point with an elevation of 5,259 feet (1,603 meters).
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