Battle of Chemnitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Chemnitz |
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| Part of the Thirty Years' War | |||||||
 Engraving of Chemnitz around 1650 by Matthäus Merian |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sweden |
 Holy Roman Empire Saxony |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Johan Banér Lennart Torstensson |
Rodolfo Marazzino Johann Christoph von Puchheim |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 18,000 men | 5,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 500 killed or wounded |
2,000 men
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The Battle of Chemnitz happened on April 14, 1639. It took place near the town of Chemnitz in Saxony, which is now part of Germany. This battle was a big part of the Thirty Years' War, a long and difficult conflict in Europe.
In this battle, the Swedish army, led by General Johan Banér, won a huge victory. They defeated the Saxon army and a small group of Imperial soldiers. These forces were commanded by Rodolfo Giovanni Marazzino and Johann Christoph von Puchheim. Puchheim was even captured by the Swedes during the fighting.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Saxony Changes Sides
The Thirty Years' War was a complex conflict. At first, Saxony was an ally of Sweden. But in 1635, Saxony decided to switch sides. They made a peace deal with Emperor Ferdinand II. This meant Saxony was now fighting against Sweden.
Swedish Army Moves In
In 1636, Sweden won a big battle at Wittstock. This allowed them to enter Saxony for a short time. However, the Imperial army pushed them back. The Swedish forces, led by General Banér, were stuck near the Baltic Sea for most of 1638. But they received supplies by sea. The Imperial army, however, struggled to get enough food and support.
Banér's Plan
In January 1639, the Imperial army retreated. General Banér saw this as a chance to attack. He led his Swedish army of 18,000 men into Saxony. His goal was to bring the war to the Emperor's allies.
Banér's army moved quickly. They defeated a small Imperial group at Elsterberg. Then, they easily captured Zwickau and Chemnitz. Next, they tried to take Freiberg, a town known for its silver mines. But the defenders fought hard, and Banér lost 500 men.
The Chase to Chemnitz
While Banér was at Freiberg, the Saxon army, with 5,000 men, came closer. Banér decided to leave Freiberg. He went back to Chemnitz to meet up with another Swedish general, Lennart Torstensson.
The Saxon commander, Marazzino, thought the Swedish army was weaker than it was. He chased Banér to Chemnitz. But Banér had already joined forces with Torstensson. Together, they decided to attack the Saxons before more Imperial troops could arrive.
The Battle Begins
Armies Meet at Chemnitz
On the evening of April 13, the Saxon and Imperial soldiers learned the Swedes were coming. They quickly left their camp at Hohenstein. They moved towards Chemnitz to prepare for battle.
General Banér arrived at Hohenstein soon after. Only the Imperial rearguard (the soldiers protecting the back of the army) was left. The Swedish soldiers attacked them. They pushed them back towards the main Saxon army.
Setting Up for Battle
The path to Chemnitz was difficult. It went through a swampy area. Imperial dragoons (soldiers who rode horses but fought on foot) defended this narrow path. This gave Marazzino time to get his army ready.
The Imperial-Saxon army set up their lines. Their left side was near Chemnitz. Their right side was positioned behind the Chemnitz River.
The Fight at the River
Swedish Cavalry Attacks
Four Swedish cavalry (horseback soldier) groups managed to get through the swampy path. They immediately attacked the Imperial-Saxon left side. Banér's own group led the charge.
At first, the Swedes were pushed back and lost many soldiers. But they attacked again. This time, they broke through the Imperial-Saxon left side. Marazzino's left wing had to retreat across the Chemnitz River.
Crossing the River
More Swedish soldiers arrived to help Banér. He decided to keep up the attack. Without waiting, he ordered his troops to cross the river. They charged at Marazzino's right wing.
The Saxon soldiers were already shocked by what happened to their left side. When the Swedes came, they quickly ran away. The Imperial-Saxon infantry (foot soldiers) in the middle tried to escape into Chemnitz. But most of them were scattered and captured. Many were taken by the Hakkapeliitta, a type of Finnish cavalry, led by Torsten Stålhandske.
Swedish Victory
In the end, the Swedes completely defeated a large part of the enemy army. They captured 1,500 prisoners. They also took the Saxon artillery (cannons). One important prisoner was Puchheim, the commander of the Imperial soldiers.
What Happened Next
After the battle, Marazzino was removed from his job. The Emperor even put him on trial. The Swedes tried to capture Freiberg again, but they failed. However, they did take Pirna and then moved into Bohemia.
