Battle of Prague (1648)

Battle of Prague

Date	25 July – 1 November 1648
Location	Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Habsburg Monarchy 50°05′11″N 14°24′44″E / 50.08639°N 14.41222°E / 50.08639; 14.41222Coordinates: 50°05′11″N 14°24′44″E / 50.08639°N 14.41222°E / 50.08639; 14.41222
Result	Disputed; the Swedes loot Prague Castle but fail to capture the Old Town

Belligerents

Swedish Empire

Bohemia

Commanders and leaders

Hans Königsmarck

Prince Carl Gustaf

Count Rudolph Colloredo-Wallsee

Jiří Plachý (A Jesuit priest leading a group of students called the Academic Legion)

Strength

cca 7500 soldiers (unconfirmed) plus 6000 reinforcements led by Charles X Gustav of Sweden

cca 2000 soldiers, plus local militia and Academic Legion

Casualties and losses

500 dead, 700 wounded

219 dead, 475 wounded

Thirty Years' War

Pilsen Lomnice Sablat Wisternitz Humenné Bad Kreuznach Oppenheim Bacharach White Mountain Érsekújvár Neu Titschein Battle of Tyrnau Mingolsheim Wimpfen Höchst Fleurus Heidelberg Mannheim Frankenthal Hodonín Stadtlohn Genoa Peasants' War in Upper Austria Dessau Bridge Lutter am Barenberge Stralsund Wolgast Swedish landing Frankfurt Magdeburg Werben 1st Breitenfeld Bamberg Rain Wiesloch Nuremberg Alte Veste Fürth Lützen Oldendorf Pfaffenhofen Steinau Konstanz 1st Breisach 1st Rheinfelden Battle of Liegnitz (1634) 1st Nördlingen Willstätt Les Avins Avesnes Leuven Ray-sur-Saône Battle of Dömitz Battle of Haselünne Tornavento Somme Wittstock Hanau 2nd Rheinfelden Fuenterrabía Vlotho 2nd Breisach Battle of Wittenweiher 1st Freiberg Chemnitz Melnik Thionville Saint Omer Salses Cambrils Montjuïc Battle of Preßnitz São Filipe Plauen La Marfée Dorsten Battle of Wolfenbüttel (1641) Honnecourt Kempen Schweidnitz 2nd Breitenfeld Klingenthal 2nd Freiberg Rocroi Tuttlingen Kolding Lister Dyb Colberger Heide Freiburg Fehmarn Jüterbog Bysjön Jankau Brno Mergentheim 2nd Nördlingen Battle of Triebl Neapolitan Revolt Zusmarshausen Lens Wevelinghoven Battle of Dachau Prague

_Treaties

The Battle of Prague, which occurred between 25 July and 1 November 1648 was the last action of the Thirty Years' War. General Hans Christoff von Königsmarck, commanding Sweden's flying column, entered the city, which was defended by the Governor Feldmarshall Rudolf von Colloredo, a veteran of the siege of Mantua and of the battle of Lutzen, where he served under Albrecht von Wallenstein. The Swedes captured Prague Castle on the western bank of the Vltava river and attempted to enter the Old Town on the eastern bank of the river, but were repulsed on the Charles Bridge by Colloredo's men. When a third Swedish army commanded by Prince Carl Gustaf came close to Prague, all three Swedish armies launched a number of attacks against the city. These attacks were resisted, largely thanks to the skill of the Feldmarshal and the energy of his troops. When in November Gustaf received a report about the signed Peace, he ordered his troops to leave.

Unable to enter the city, the Swedes settled for looting the Castle. Many of the treasures collected by Emperor Rudolf II (such as the Codex Gigas and Codex Argenteus) were taken to Sweden, whereof some can be found in Drottningholm Palace.

A monument erected during the 19th century on Colloredo's tomb in the Maltese Order Church in Prague remind his victory over the Swedish. Its German inscription reads thus:

HIER RUHT RUDOLF GRAF COLLOREDO K.K. FELDMARSCHALL UND MALTHESERORDER GROSSPRIOR Vertheididiger der Alt und Neusstad Prags gegen die Schweden Geb. Am 2 Nov. 1585 Gest. Am 27 Jan. 1657.

("Here lies Rudolf, count Colloredo, Imperial and Royal Feldmarshall and Grand Prior of the Order of Malta, defender of the Old and New Town of Prague against the Swedes. Born 2. Nov. 1585 Dead 27 Jan. 1657")

On Charles Bridge a 17th-century Latin inscription says:

SISTE VIATOR, SED LUBENS, AC VOLENS UBI SISTERE DEBUIT, SED COACTUS GOTHORUM, AC VANDALORUM FUROR

"Rest here, walker, and be happy: you can stop here willing, but unwilling were stopped the Goths (Swedes) and their Vandalic ferocity"

The battle was referenced in Sabaton's song "1648" in album Carolus Rex.

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