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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174 A History of Sweden
hereditary possessions Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia,
and Austria. His method of war reminds one also of
Gustavus Adolphus. He sought for instance to spare
as far as possible the peaceable inhabitants of the lands
into which he led his army.
His first campaign into the Emperor’s lands he sud-
denly abandoned, however, and fell back into Saxony.
The imperial forces pursued. The Swedish march be-
came more and more precipitate, and the pursuers in
like measure more and more eager, supposing the
Swedes to be fleeing in fright. When the pursuers
reached the plains of Breitenfeld, one October morn-
ing, 1642, they found themselves face to face with the
Swedish army drawn up in battle array. Torstensson
had conceived the plan of leading his wary opponent
to a decisive battle. The result was a brilliant victory
on the battle field where Gustavus Adolphus had won
his decisive victory eleven years before. Thereupon
Torstensson invaded anew the Emperor’s lands, but
was now ordered by the home government to march
against Denmark.*
Through continued victories under Karl Gustav
Wrangel, who succeeded Torstensson, the Swedish
army as well as that of France forced the Emperor, in
1648, to agree to the Peace of Westphalia. A brilliant
assembly of delegates from nearly all European states
had continued during five whole years to negotiate,
bargain, and adjust. The terms of peace accorded equal
* A peace congress was about to assemble, and Denmark, which had watched
with a jealous eye the leadership of Sweden and her successes, now offered her
services as a mediator. This must at all hazards be prevented. Hence, this
order to Torstensson.
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