Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg facts for kids
Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg (born in 1583 in Boitzenburger Land, died in 1641 in Dresden) was an important German military leader. He was a Field Marshal during the Thirty Years' War, a big conflict in Europe. What makes him interesting is that he fought for different sides during this war. Sometimes he fought for the Holy Roman Empire, and other times for its enemy, the Electorate of Saxony. He also worked as a diplomat, helping to solve problems between countries.
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Who Was Hans Georg von Arnim?
Hans Georg von Arnim was born in a place called Boitzenburger Land in Brandenburg. He studied at several universities before starting his career. In 1612, he began working for the Prussian court in Königsberg. He had to leave this job the next year because of a duel.
After that, Arnim joined the Swedish army. He helped King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden fight against Russia from 1613 to 1617. He also went on secret missions to help arrange the marriage of Gustavus Adolphus to Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg. Later, from 1621 to 1622, his German soldiers helped the king of Poland-Lithuania fight against the Ottoman Empire.
Fighting for the Holy Roman Empire
In 1626, a powerful general named Wallenstein convinced Arnim to join the army of the Holy Roman Empire. Even though Arnim was a Protestant, he agreed. He quickly became a Field Marshal. His soldiers respected him, and he became a close friend of Wallenstein. Arnim was known for being loyal to Wallenstein and for believing in religious tolerance. This meant he was okay with different religions, which was unusual for the time.
Arnim was a devoted Lutheran. However, Emperor Ferdinand II sent him and his troops to help the Swedish-Polish King Sigismund III. They were supposed to fight against the Lutheran King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden at Stuhm in 1629. Arnim and his soldiers did not want to do this. When the Polish side did not pay the soldiers, many of them refused to fight or even joined the Swedish side.
Changing Sides to Saxony
Arnim left the imperial army because of a law called the Edict of Restitution and because Wallenstein was dismissed. He then joined the army of the Elector John George of Saxony.
Arnim commanded the left side of the army of Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. He played a big part in bringing Sweden and Saxony together. These two Protestant powers joined forces to fight for their shared religion.
After this, Arnim led his troops into Bohemia and captured Prague. He also won a victory at Nymburk. In 1632, he returned to Saxony and later fought in Brandenburg and Silesia. He was also important in talks between John George and Wallenstein. These talks ended when Wallenstein died in 1634. After Wallenstein's death, Arnim defeated the imperial army at Legnica and worked with another general, Bauer, in Bohemia.
Later Life and Final Campaigns
In 1635, Arnim left the Saxon forces to protest against the Peace of Prague. He decided to retire from military life. However, he was kidnapped by Axel Oxenstierna, who thought Arnim was plotting against Sweden. Arnim was taken to Stockholm in 1637, but he managed to escape to Hamburg in November 1638.
After his escape, Arnim dedicated himself to freeing Germany from foreign control. He was leading a campaign as a lieutenant general for the imperial and Saxon armies against the French and Swedes when he died in Dresden in 1641.
See also
In Spanish: Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg para niños
