Battle of Nabe

Last updated
Battle of Nabe
Part of the Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)
Date3 October, 1657
Location
Nabe, Agger
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg  Swedish Empire Royal Standard of Denmark (1731-1819).svg  Denmark–Norway
Commanders and leaders
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Böddeker Royal Standard of Denmark (1731-1819).svg Niels Lykke  (POW)
Royal Standard of Denmark (1731-1819).svg Friedrich Ziegler  (POW)
Units involved
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Three cavalry regiments Royal Standard of Denmark (1731-1819).svg Nabe redoubt
Strength
500–700 cavalry 900 peasants
150 cavalry
Casualties and losses
Unknown 60–280 killed
Everyone else captured

The Battle of Nabe was fought between Danish and Swedish forces at Nabe on October 3 1657. The Swedes attacked the Danish redoubt and successfully captured both Danish commanders and crushed the popular resistance in Jutland as a consequence of the battle.

Contents

Portrait of Carl Gustaf Wrangel by Matthaus Merian Portratt av greve Carl Gustaf Wrangel (1613-1676), riksmarsk och generalfaltherre - Skoklosters slott - 97392.tif
Portrait of Carl Gustaf Wrangel by Matthäus Merian

Background

In October, during the ongoing Siege of Fredriksodde, Carl Gustaf Wrangel was forced to conserve his supplies. He therefore sent three cavalry regiments, amounting to some 500–700 horse under Generalmajor Böddeker, towards northern Jutland, in order to both subjugate it and to gather food and fodder for the Swedish horses. [1] [2]

Battle

On 3 October, the cavalry under Böddeker encountered a Danish redoubt at Nabe in Agger defended by 150 Danish cavalry and around 1,500–2,000 [1] peasant levies, respectively under the Lieutenant Colonels Niels Lykke and Friedrich Ziegler. At the time, Lykke was off visiting relatives, and Ziegler was drunk and possibly also away from the redoubt, while the peasants were unenthusiastic about battle. As a consequence, some 600 peasants deserted immediately before the Swedish attack. [2]

This reduced the Danish strength to, at most, around 150 cavalry and 900 peasants. In the ensuing short but intense battle, the Swedes under Böddeker killed many peasants and soon also managed to capture both Lykke and Ziegler, along with the rest. [2] [3] Many of the peasants fled north, closely pursued by the Swedes who ruthlessly killed anyone they caught up with.

The exact number of dead is unknown, with some figures stating 80 cavalry and 200 peasants dead, although contemporary church records indicate no more than around 60 killed. [2] [1]

Böddeker believed that the peasants needed to be taught a lesson. However, the captured peasants were quickly released to return home, carrying with them a strict warning to lay down their weapons and instead go back to their labor. [1]

Aftermath

As a consequence of the battle, all popular resistance against the Swedes that still remained in Jutland was shattered, and the Jutland peasants henceforth took no active part in the war. [2] [1]

Legacy

On the 300th anniversary of the battle, a mamorial stone was erected at the battlefield. It was placed in a location where the fleeing Danes and pursuing Swedes must have passed. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles X Gustav</span> King of Sweden from 1654 to 1660

Charles X Gustav, also Carl X Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who bore his son and successor, Charles XI. Charles X Gustav was the second Wittelsbach king of Sweden after the childless king Christopher of Bavaria (1441–1448) and he was the first king of the Swedish Caroline era, which had its peak during the end of the reign of his son, Charles XI. He led Sweden during the Second Northern War, enlarging the Swedish Empire. By his predecessor Christina, he was considered de facto Duke of Eyland (Öland), before ascending to the Swedish throne. From 1655 to 1657, he was also Grand Duke of Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deluge (history)</span> 1648–1666 invasions of Poland–Lithuania

The Deluge was a series of mid-17th-century military campaigns in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In a wider sense, it applies to the period between the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648 and the Truce of Andrusovo in 1667, comprising the Polish theatres of the Russo-Polish and Second Northern Wars. In a stricter sense, the term refers to the Swedish invasion and occupation of the Commonwealth as a theatre of the Second Northern War (1655–1660) only; in Poland and Lithuania this period is called the Swedish Deluge, or less commonly the Russo–Swedish Deluge due to the simultaneous Russo-Polish War. The term "deluge" was popularized by Henryk Sienkiewicz in his novel The Deluge (1886).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern War of 1655–1660</span> Conflict in Europe

The Northern War of 1655–1660, also known as the Second Northern War, First Northern War or Little Northern War, was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1655–60), the Tsardom of Russia (1656–58), Brandenburg-Prussia (1657–60), the Habsburg monarchy (1657–60) and Denmark–Norway. The Dutch Republic waged an informal trade war against Sweden and seized the colony of New Sweden in 1655, but was not a recognized part of the Polish–Danish alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count's Feud</span> 1534–36 civil war in Denmark

The Count's Feud, sometimes referred to as the Count's War, was a Danish war of succession occurring from 1534 to 1536, which gave rise to the Reformation in Denmark. In the broader international context, it was a part of the European wars of religion. The Count's Feud derives its name from the Protestant Count, Christopher of Oldenburg, who championed the claim to the throne of the deposed Catholic King, Christian II, rejecting Christian III's election. Christian III was a devoted Protestant who had already established Lutheranism as the state religion in Schleswig and Holstein by 1528.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March Across the Belts</span> Swedish military campaign

The March Across the Belts was a military campaign waged by the Swedish Empire across the ice between the Danish islands. It lasted between 30 January and 15 February 1658, ending with a decisive victory for Swedish King Charles X Gustav during his first Danish war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)</span> Historic war between Sweden and Denmark

The Dano-Swedish War of 1657–1658, known in Denmark as the First Karl Gustav War in Norway as Krabbes Feud and in Sweden as Karl Gustav's First Danish War, was a conflict between Sweden and Denmark–Norway during the Second Northern War. In 1657, Charles X of Sweden and his Swedish army were bogged down in Poland. Frederick III of Denmark-Norway saw an opportunity to recover the territories lost in 1645 and attacked Sweden. The outbreak of war with Denmark provided Charles with an excuse to withdraw from the Polish campaign and move against Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assault on Copenhagen (1659)</span> Part of the Second Northern War

The Assault on Copenhagen also known as the Battle of Copenhagen on 11 February 1659 was a major engagement during the Second Northern War, taking place during the Swedish siege of Copenhagen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Żarnów</span> 1655 battle of the Second Northern War; Swedish victory

The Battle of Żarnów was fought on September 16, 1655, between the forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, commanded by John II Casimir and the forces of the Swedish Empire, commanded by Charles X Gustav. The result ended with a Swedish victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660)</span> War between Denmark–Norway and Sweden that took place between 1658-60

The Dano-Swedish War of 1658–1660 was a war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, with the former backed by the Dutch Republic and Poland. It is known in Denmark as the Second Karl Gustav War, in Norway as Bjelkes Feud in Sweden as Karl Gustav's Second Danish War, and in the Netherlands as the Swedish-Dutch War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denmark–Sweden relations</span> Bilateral relations

The relations between Denmark and Sweden span a long history of interaction. The inhabitants of each speak related North Germanic languages, which have a degree of mutual intelligibility. Both countries formed part of the Kalmar Union between 1397 and 1523, but there exists an inherited cultural competition between Sweden and Denmark. From 1448 to 1790 the two kingdoms went to war against each other at nearly every opportunity; in more than one case a new king tried to prove his worth by waging war on the other country for little or no political reason. Several Dano-Swedish wars took place between 1521 and 1814.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Nyborg</span> Battle in the Second Northern War

The Battle of Nyborg took place between Sweden and the combined forces of Denmark, Dutch naval forces under Michiel de Ruyter, troops of Brandenburg-Prussia, and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth forces under Stefan Czarniecki. The battle was engaged on 14 November 1659 at Nyborg on the Danish island of Funen. Nyborg was the final major battle of the Dano-Swedish War of 1658 to 1660.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landing at Humlebæk</span> Battle in the Great Northern War

The Landing at Humlebæk took place on August 4, 1700, in the Swedish invasion of Denmark during the Great Northern War 1700-1721. It was the first offensive during the war by the Swedish army, and it was directly led by Charles XII of Sweden commanding the right flank and Arvid Horn together with Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld at the left. The Swedes were victorious and routed the Danish forces led by Jens Rostgaard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Skałat</span> 1657 battle

Battle of Skalat in 1657 was part of The Deluge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invasion of Courland (1658)</span> Swedish invasion of Courland in 1658

The Invasion of Courland (1658) was a Swedish campaign against the Duchy of Courland in 1658. It was led by Robert Douglas and resulted in the Swedes occupying Courland, capturing Mitau and the Duke of Courland. The initial invasion only lasted a few months, however the Swedes remained in Courland for 2 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transylvanian campaign into Poland (1657)</span> Military campaign into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1657

The Transylvanian campaign into Poland also called the Brest Campaign or Rakoczy's Campaign was a campaign by Transylvania, Sweden, and the Cossack Hetmanate into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Deluge in 1657. The allied army saw success in the beginning, but when Denmark declared war on Sweden, Charles abandoned the Transylvanians, which led to their defeat. During the campaign, the allied forces successfully managed to capture both Warsaw and Brest from the Poles but were later pushed out from the country after the forces of Stefan Czarniecki intervened in the conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Fredriksodde</span> Fought between Denmark and Sweden in 1657

The siege of Fredriksodde, also called the storming of Fredriksodde, was a successful Swedish siege of the fortress and town of Fredriksodde in 1657 during the Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658). The siege and the subsequent capture of the fortress by Swedish forces completed the Swedish conquest of Jutland.

The Battle of Rautus kyrka was a failed Russian attempt to stop a Swedish relief force headed for Kexholm during the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658). The Swedes, led by Christoffer Burmeister successfully repelled the Russian attack and forced them back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assault on Eda skans</span> Assault on a Swedish sconce in 1658

The Assault on Eda skans was an incident on 11 February 1658, when a Norwegian force under Michael Opitz attacked the Swedish sconce at Eda. The Norwegians were successful at first, but were later repelled by the Swedish artillery fire, forcing them to withdraw. The fighting lasted for 2 hours.

The Battle of Lälitz was an engagement fought between Swedish and Russian troops in the village of Lälitz in 17 July, 1657. It ended with the Russian troops being repulsed and their commander dying of his wounds sustained during the fighting.

The Battle of Lava occurred on 11 August, 1657, when a Swedish force, under the command of Gustav Evertsson Horn, attacked a Russian ostrog at Lava. Horn, who had not been notified that Carl Gustaf Wrangel would not be able to support him, was not able to dislodge the Russians.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Isacsson 2015, p. 148.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Essen 2023, p. 166.
  3. Bricka, Carl Frederik. "521 (Dansk biografisk Lexikon / X. Bind. Laale - Løvenørn)". runeberg.org (in Danish). Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  4. Balle, Torsten. "NABE og kamppladsen 3. oktober 1657" (PDF). arkivthy.dk.

Works cited