Battle of Dessau Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Dessau Bridge
Part of the Thirty Years' War
Battle of Dessau Bridge, etching by F. Hogenberg's workshop
Date 25 April 1626 Location Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany Result Catholic victory
Belligerents
Denmark–Norway	Holy Roman Empire Catholic League
Commanders and leaders
Ernst von Mansfeld Christian William of Brandenburg	Albrecht von Wallenstein Torquato Conti
Strength
12,000	20,000
Casualties and losses
4,000 dead, wounded, or captured	2,000

The Battle of Dessau Bridge (German: Schlacht bei Dessau) was an important battle during the Thirty Years' War. It happened on April 25, 1626, near Dessau, Germany. This battle was fought between the Danish Protestant forces and the Imperial German Catholic forces. It took place at a key bridge over the Elbe River.

The battle was an attempt by a commander named Ernst von Mansfeld to cross the Dessau bridge. His goal was to reach Magdeburg, where the main Imperial Army was based. The Dessau bridge was very important. It was the only land route connecting Magdeburg and Dresden. This made it a difficult place for Mansfeld's army to advance. The Imperial German forces, led by Albrecht von Wallenstein, won a clear victory. They defeated Mansfeld's Protestant army.

Preparing for the Battle

Albrecht von Wallenstein started getting ready for battle in late 1625. He set up his army in the Halberstadt-Aschersleben area. Wallenstein and his growing Imperial Army knew that Mansfeld and his Danish army were coming. King Christian IV of Denmark had officially joined the Thirty Years' War.

Mansfeld's army was ordered to move towards Wallenstein at the Dessau Bridge. At the same time, King Christian IV and his ally Christian of Brunswick were supposed to fight the Catholic army of the Count of Tilly. Christian of Brunswick's earlier battles had not gone well. His army was weakened. Part of Wallenstein's Imperial Army, led by Johann von Aldringen, prepared for the fight. They set up heavy artillery and troops along the Elbe River. Wallenstein and his Catholic forces marched to Dessau. They knew Mansfeld's Protestant army would try to cross the bridge there.

The Battle and Its Outcome

In April 1626, both Mansfeld's army and Wallenstein's Imperial Army moved quickly to Dessau. Aldringen and his men arrived first. This allowed them to set up a strong defense at the Dessau Bridge. They placed their heavy artillery in key positions. Mansfeld was very confident and underestimated Wallenstein. He did not realize how powerful and large the Imperial Army was.

On April 25, the battle began. Aldringen's troops held back Mansfeld's army. Mansfeld's soldiers tried to push across the bridge and river. Soon, Wallenstein and more Imperial troops arrived. Mansfeld and his army were completely overwhelmed. Nearly half of Mansfeld's army was destroyed. The remaining Danish forces had to retreat towards Silesia.

Mansfeld tried to rebuild his army. He got help from John Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar. He gathered about 7,000 new soldiers. This gave him an army similar in size to what he had lost. However, his efforts did not last long. He died soon after, outside a village near Sarajevo. His ally, Johann Ernst, also died around the same time. The Danish Protestant army then fell apart. They retreated into Upper Silesia. Later, King Christian IV's army was defeated by the Count of Tilly in the Battle of Lutter. This defeat allowed Tilly to take control of lands like Holstein, Jutland, and Schleswig.