Siege of Stralsund | |||||||||
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Part of Scanian War | |||||||||
Plan of Stralsund in 1678 | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg | Otto Wilhelm von Königsmarck | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
21,500 80 guns | 6,000 154 guns |
The siege of Stralsund was an armed engagement between the Electorate of Brandenburg and the Swedish Empire from 20 September to 15 October 1678, during the Scanian War. [1] After two days of bombardment on 10 and 11 October, the severely devastated Swedish fortress of Stralsund surrendered to the Brandenburgers. [1] The remainder of Swedish Pomerania was taken by the end of the year, [2] yet most of the province including Stralsund was returned to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Peace of Lund, both concluded in 1679.
The Scanian War reached Swedish Pomerania when after the Battle of Fehrbellin (1675) the retreating Swedish forces were pursued by a Brandenburgian army under "Great Elector" Frederick William I's command. [1] Stralsund was one of only two major fortresses Sweden maintained in Pomerania, the other one being Stettin. [3] After the Brandenburgian army had captured Stettin and Wolgast, Stralsund was seriously threatened. [1] In addition, Danish forces had landed on Rügen in 1677, aided by a disloyal Rugian noble. [4]
Thus, all buildings outside the fortifications were levelled in 1677 to strip an imminent Brandenburgian attack of cover. [1] Stralsund then held a population of 8,500, including armed burghers, [5] and close to 5,000 Swedish, German and Finnish foot and horse. [6]
Frederick William I positioned his artillery south of the town and started bombardment on 10 October 1678. [1] His aim was to force Swedish commander Otto Wilhelm von Königsmarck [7] into surrender by abundantly firing incendiary bombs on the burghers' mansions. [1] The small, newly created Brandenburgian navy also took part in the siege. [8]
Most of the southern half of the town was destroyed when the defendants surrendered the town on 11 October, [1] namely 285 houses, 476 huts, and 194 servant dwellings. [9] [10]
Despite great efforts of Frederick William I to win the loyalty of the Swedish Pomeranian population, [11] including generous aid programs to rebuild Stralsund and Stettin, [12] most remained loyal to Sweden. [11] After the fall of Stralsund, there were only few Swedish-held areas left in Swedish Pomerania, all of which Frederick William I had cleared by the end of 1678. [2]
Stralsund was returned to Sweden in the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1679). [1] Due to the devastating bombardment of 1678, as well as another fire on 12 June [10] 1680, the population was reduced to about 6,000, with an additional 2,000 garrisoned Swedes. [5] After the 1680 fire destroyed an additional 48 houses, 89 huts, and 82 servant dwellings, only 205 houses, 408 huts, and 158 servant dwellings were still standing. [13]