Battle of Bornhöved (1813) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Bornhöved
Part of the War of the Sixth Coalition
Battle of Bornhöved by Per Krafft the younger
Date 7 December 1813 Location Bornhöft, Schleswig-Holstein, present-day Germany 54°4′N 10°12′E / 54.067°N 10.200°E / 54.067; 10.200 Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Denmark–Norway	Sweden
Commanders and leaders
Prince Frederik of Hesse	Charles XIV John Bror Cederström
Strength
2,500 infantry and cavalry with artillery support	700 cavalry
Casualties and losses
21 dead 35 wounded 75 captured 2 cannons 1 howitzer captured	13 dead 46 wounded

The Battle of Bornhöved was a fight that happened on December 7, 1813. It was between Swedish soldiers and Danish troops. This battle took place near a small village called Bornhöft in what is now Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was part of the bigger Napoleonic Wars, specifically the War of the Sixth Coalition. This was the very last time Swedish and Danish armies fought each other on a battlefield.

Why the Battle Happened

Chasing the Danish Army

Crown Prince Charles John was a leader of the northern armies. He wanted to chase the Danish army as they retreated. His plan was for the Swedish cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to ride next to the Danes. The goal was for another general, Wallmoden, to block the Danes' escape route. This would force the Danish army to surrender.

Swedish Cavalry's Desire to Fight

Charles John had been very careful with his Swedish forces. He often held them back from big battles. This meant other allied armies took more losses. The Swedish cavalry felt left out because they hadn't seen much action. They also missed fighting in an earlier war where Sweden lost Finland. Because of this, they decided to ignore their orders. They rode straight towards the Danish forces.

The Battle of Bornhöved

First Clashes

The Swedish cavalry first met the Danish rearguard. This rearguard was made up of Polish Uhlans. These were elite soldiers sent by Napoleon to protect the Danish retreat. The Swedish cavalry fought with them throughout the day.

Main Battle at Bornhöved

In the evening, the Swedes reached the main Danish army at Bornhöved. This Danish force had about 2,500 soldiers. They had infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry, and cannons. Normally, they wouldn't see a small group of Swedish cavalry as a big threat. It was getting dark, and the ground was difficult. A direct cavalry attack on so many soldiers with cannons would usually be a bad idea.

However, their rearguard was still fighting Swedish patrols. So, the Danes got ready in lines and waited. First, the Danish rearguard arrived, still being chased by some Swedish groups. The Swedes attacked and scattered them.

Swedish Cavalry Charge

The Swedish attackers then turned to face the main Danish force. The Danes used all their soldiers at once. A Swedish scouting group was pushed back. But the main Swedish force began to get into position.

About 471 Swedish cavalrymen, led by Colonel Bror Cederström, immediately charged. They broke through the Danish lines. The Danes were forced to retreat.

What Happened After

The Swedish victory at Bornhöved was an important step. It helped Sweden reach its goal of taking Norway from Denmark. This goal was finally achieved later with the Treaty of Kiel.