Battle of Vlotho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Vlotho
Part of the Thirty Years' War
Date 17 October 1638 Location Vlotho, County of Ravensberg (present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Electoral Palatinate  Kingdom of England  Kingdom of Sweden	Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charles Louis, Elector Palatine Lord Craven James King, Lord Eythin	Graf von Hatzfeldt
Strength
4,000: 1,500 infantry, 2,500 cavalry.	5,800: 1,800 infantry, 4,000 cavalry.
Casualties and losses
1,200 taken prisoner.	79 casualties.

The Battle of Vlotho was a key fight during the Thirty Years' War. It happened on October 17, 1638, near the town of Vlotho in Germany. In this battle, the Imperial Army, led by Field Marshal Melchior von Hatzfeldt, won a big victory. This defeat stopped Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine from taking back his family's lands, called the Electoral Palatinate.

Why the Battle Happened: The Background

The Thirty Years' War was a long and terrible conflict in Europe. It involved many countries and was fought over religion and power.

A Prince's Quest for His Homeland

Frederick V, Charles Louis's father, had lost his lands in the Palatinate. He was sometimes called the "Winter King." After Frederick died in 1632, his son Charles Louis wanted to get these lands back. In 1638, Charles Louis decided to make one last try.

He gathered an army of 4,000 soldiers. He used money from England to pay for them. His younger brother, Prince Rupert, also joined him. Many English nobles, like Lord Craven, also came to help.

Help from Sweden

To make his army stronger, Charles Louis got help from the Swedish army. Their commander, Johan Banér, sent 1,000 soldiers. These troops were led by Lieutenant-General James King, a Scottish officer. Many of these soldiers were British.

The Plan and a Change of Mind

The original plan was to gather the army in a region called Westphalia. Then, they would march through another area, Hesse, to reach and take back the Palatinate. However, the Swedish commander Banér thought this plan was too risky.

He convinced Charles Louis to change the plan. Instead, they would first attack and capture the town of Lemgo. This would help secure their supply routes. It also helped the Swedes with their own war goals.

The Imperial Army Responds

On October 15, 1638, Charles Louis's army began to attack Lemgo. Meanwhile, the Imperial Field Marshal Melchior von Hatzfeldt quickly gathered his own army. Hatzfeldt had been put in charge of Imperial forces in Westphalia. He wanted to stop Charles Louis.

The next day, Charles Louis's scouts spotted Hatzfeldt's approaching army. They thought it was about 8,000 strong. So, Charles Louis and his commanders decided to stop attacking Lemgo. They chose to retreat to the Swedish fortress at Minden.

A Risky Retreat

The Palatine army had two ways to get to Minden. They picked the road to Vlotho. This road was shorter, but it meant they stayed on the same side of the Weser River as Hatzfeldt's army. Their main problem was that Hatzfeldt's army was faster. Unless they left behind their cannons and supplies, Hatzfeldt would catch them.

The Battle of Vlotho

The Imperial army, moving quickly, managed to get ahead of Charles Louis's forces. They blocked their path at the Vlotho bridge.

Setting Up for Battle

Charles Louis's army was marching with their supplies at the front. The cavalry (soldiers on horseback) were next, and the infantry (foot soldiers) and cannons were at the back.

General King quickly arranged the Palatine cavalry into a defensive line on a small hill called Eiberg. He then went to bring up the infantry.

A Bold, Risky Plan

King's officer, Hans von Königsmarck, suggested a bold move. Instead of waiting for the infantry, they could send their cavalry forward. They would go through a narrow valley, which would act like a natural choke point. This would stop Hatzfeldt from attacking them with all his forces at once.

Charles Louis and Lord Craven agreed to this plan. Three cavalry groups, led by Königsmarck, rode into the valley one after another. Other soldiers, called dragoons, and the two commanders stayed on the hill, waiting for their infantry.

Hatzfeldt's Counterattack

As soon as Hatzfeldt saw what the Palatine cavalry was doing, he reacted quickly. He sent two of his own cavalry groups into the valley to meet the enemy. He also sent another 800 soldiers on a surprise attack, hidden by the low hills around the valley.

The Fight in the Valley

In the fight that followed, the first two Palatine cavalry groups broke apart. The third group was led by Prince Rupert. He ordered a full-speed charge, a tactic he would become famous for later in the English Civil War. Rupert's charge pushed Hatzfeldt's cavalry out of the valley.

But as Rupert's cavalry came out of the narrow pass, Hatzfeldt's larger forces surrounded them. Lord Craven led two groups of dragoons to support Rupert. However, the Imperial cavalry that Hatzfeldt had sent to flank them closed in from behind. This trapped Rupert's cavalry and Craven's reinforcements.

The situation became hopeless for Charles Louis's army. Königsmarck wisely pulled back with his Swedish cavalry. General King managed to help Charles Louis and the remaining soldiers escape. They found safety in Minden.

What Happened After the Battle

The defeat at Vlotho was a major setback for Charles Louis. It was the last big effort to get back the Palatinate lands with English help. Soon after, the start of the English Civil War meant that most British soldiers and officers had to return home.

However, some English soldiers continued to fight in the Thirty Years' War. They served in a special Anglo-Dutch brigade and had success in other battles, like the Siege of Hulst in 1645.