Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein (1583–1634), Bohemian noble and imperial generalissimo of the Thirty Years' War, murdered at Eger.
Category: Figures
- July 25, 1625Wallenstein is commissioned to raise an imperial army for Ferdinand II
On 25 July 1625 Albrecht von Wallenstein, made Duke of Friedland that year, receives his commission to raise an army for Ferdinand II at his own expense. It grows to tens of thousands, and sources differ on whether 30,000 or 50,000.
- April 25, 1626Wallenstein routs Mansfeld at the Dessau Bridge over the Elbe
On 25 April 1626 Wallenstein's imperial army overpowers Ernst von Mansfeld's Protestant army as it tries to cross the Elbe at Dessau, the only land link between Magdeburg and Dresden. Mansfeld loses nearly half his army.
- 1628Ferdinand II deposes the Dukes of Mecklenburg and gives the duchy to Wallenstein
In early 1628 Ferdinand II deposes the hereditary Duke of Mecklenburg and installs Wallenstein, who by 1627 has also occupied Pomerania and Jutland. From April 1628 Wallenstein is also imperial admiral of the Baltic.
- May 13, 1628 – August 4, 1628Stralsund resists Wallenstein with Danish and Swedish help
From 13 May to 4 August 1628 Stralsund holds out against Wallenstein. On 23 June it signs a twenty-year alliance with Gustavus Adolphus, who sends troops. It is Wallenstein's first setback and Sweden's foothold in the Empire.
- May 22, 1629Denmark makes peace with the emperor in the Treaty of Lübeck
On 22 May 1629 Wallenstein and Christian IV sign the Treaty of Lübeck, ratified by Ferdinand II on 7 June. Christian keeps his lands but gives up his claims to the Lower Saxon bishoprics and stays out of imperial affairs. Denmark declines as a power.
- August 13, 1630Ferdinand II dismisses Wallenstein at the Diet of Regensburg
On 13 August 1630 Ferdinand II decides at Regensburg to dismiss Wallenstein, whom he suspects of planning a coup. Envoys announce it in September, and Wallenstein gives his army to Tilly and retires to Jičín.
- 1632Ferdinand II recalls Wallenstein after Tilly's defeats
In 1632, after Gustavus Adolphus's victories at Breitenfeld and the Lech and Tilly's death, Ferdinand II recalls Wallenstein. He raises a new army within weeks and drives the Saxons from Bohemia.
- September 3, 1632Wallenstein repels Gustavus Adolphus's assault at the Alte Veste near Nuremberg
On 3 September 1632 Gustavus Adolphus attacks Wallenstein's entrenched camp at the Alte Veste, near Nuremberg, and is repulsed with about 2,500 casualties. Short of supplies, he withdraws south on 19 September.
- November 16, 1632Gustavus Adolphus is killed at the Battle of Lützen
On 16 November 1632 (6 November Old Style) Gustavus Adolphus is killed leading a cavalry charge at Lützen. The Swedes hold the field against Wallenstein, who withdraws to Bohemia, but Sweden loses its king and the war goes on.
- January 24, 1634 – February 18, 1634Ferdinand II removes Wallenstein from command and declares him a traitor
On 24 January 1634 Ferdinand II signs a secret patent removing Wallenstein, and on 18 February an open patent charges him with treason and orders him brought to Vienna "dead or alive". Wallenstein had been negotiating secretly with Saxony, Sweden and France.
- February 25, 1634Wallenstein is murdered at Eger
On the night of 25 February 1634, Scottish and Irish officers in Wallenstein's own force kill his loyal officers at a feast at Cheb Castle. Captain Walter Devereux then spears Wallenstein. Ferdinand II rewards the assassins.