Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - X. Reign of Christina, 1632–1654 - A. The Regency under Axel Oxenstiern, 1632–1644
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172 A History of Sweden
forces to save the free city of Nordlingen, which was
besieged by the imperial army. The Protestants were
inferior in numbers and suffered a defeat, 1634. Horn
was taken captive while trying to maintain order and
save the army. No Swedish regiment took part in this
battle.
The results were serious for Sweden. At once near-
ly all the Protestant states fell away, Saxony tak-
ing the lead. The Elector John George concluded a
separate peace with the Emperor, promising to aid him
in driving the Swedes from Germany without any re-
ward in lands. But with a humiliating dismissal Gus-
tavus Adolphus’ people were not to end their heroic
career in Germany. Axel Oxenstiern would see to that.
He sought to steel his colleagues in the government at
home, and suceeded, too, though his own labors and
cares were such that "head and brain would not suf-
fice," as he put it. He finally returned to Sweden and
succeeded in putting through a decision of the govern-
ment to continue the war until Sweden had secured
compensation and their fellow Protestants were made
secure.
The fate of Sweden in Germany now depended on
what John Baner with the only Swedish army left
could do against the Emperor and the elector of Saxony,
who had now become an open enemy. In an interview
with Baner the elector said : "The Swedes must hasten
to leave Germany, or I will help them along." "You
spoke differently when Tilly appeared before Leipsic,"
reminded Banr,and threatened to "scorch the fingers"
of any one who tried to drive out the Swedes. This he
also did emphatically by defeating a superior force of
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