Thirty Years’ War: Battle of Breitenfeld

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By his military genius, Gustavus saved Germany from Hapsburg domination. The city of Dresden proclaimed September 17 henceforth a holiday. The Battle of Breitenfeld, a victory of movement and firepower over weight of formation, has been called the first battle of the modern age, and Gustavus Adolphus has been hailed as the father of modern warfare. His tactics were still in use by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, 70 years later. But in a war of unmatched brutality, Gustavus’ conduct and noble purpose were his most lasting legacy.

Some two centuries after Catholic and Protestant Christians had slaughtered one another in the Battle of Breitenfeld, a memorial was erected on the battlefield, with a simple inscription: ‘Freedom of belief for all the world.’

This article was written by Don Hollway and originally published in the February 1996 issue of Military History.

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Tags: 17th - 18th Century, Historical Conflicts

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