TORSTENSSON, LENNART

lĕnˈnärt tōrˈstənsōn, 1603–51, Swedish general in the Thirty Years War. He was one of the generals trained by Gustavus II in the new techniques of war. As commander of the Swedish artillery at Breitenfeld (1631) and the Lech (1632), he was responsible for the success of the new mobile field artillery. Captured after an unsuccessful attack on Wallenstein, Torstensson was held (1632–33) prisoner. After the death of Baner, Torstensson succeeded to command of the Swedish troops in 1641. He infused new morale into the mutinous army and led the Swedes to numerous victories in Saxony, Moravia, Silesia, and Bohemia, including the second battle of Breitenfeld (1642). In 1643–44 he overran Denmark, which opposed Sweden, but after the indecisive battle of Kolberg Heath (1644) he left Karl Gustav Wrangel in charge of the Danish war and reentered Germany. His brilliant victory at Jankau (1645) cleared the way to Prague and Vienna. Sickness forced him to resign (1646) command to Wrangel. He was made count of Ortala in 1647 and held high civil posts in Sweden. He was the military teacher of Charles X. The name also appears as Torstenson.

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