Battle of Breitenfeld: Sweden Wins, Thirty Years' War Turns
The Protestant cause in Germany was weeks from collapse when the Swedes arrived at Breitenfeld. On September 17, 1631, Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus — who'd entered the Thirty Years' War just the year before — crushed the Imperial Catholic forces, killing or capturing over 20,000 of them while losing roughly 5,000 of his own. It was the first major Protestant victory of the war, which had been grinding on for 13 years. The battle didn't end the conflict — it ran another 17 years — but it ensured Protestantism survived in northern Europe.
September 17, 1631
395 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 17
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