VICTORY ON THE BATTLE OF BREITENFELD DADLER, Sebastian: Sweden, 1631, Silver, 65 mm This medal was struck for the Saxon Elector John George I to commemorate the victory of the allied Swedish and Saxon troops over the imperial army, led by the great Bavarian general, Count Johann Tilly (1559-1632), at Breitenfeld, near Leipzig on September 17th 1631. In the Battle of Breitenfeld, the Saxons were forced to retreat, and Count Tilly moved his imperial infantry forces to a position in order to attack the exposed Swedish flank. However, a brilliant counter maneuver was executed by the Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus, cutting Tilly off from his communications at Leipzig and separating him from his artillery. The result was the complete defeat of the imperial army. Tilly died shortly thereafter, in 1632, while trying to prevent the Swedish army from crossing over into Bavaria. |
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