Lennart Torstensson


Torstensson, Lennart

 

(also, Lennart Torstenson). Born Aug. 17, 1603, in Torstena Castle, Västergötland; died Apr. 7, 1651, in Stockholm. Swedish military leader during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48). Field marshal from 1641; count.

Torstensson was the chief assistant to Gustavus II Adolphus in the reorganization of the Swedish artillery. He commanded the field artillery of the Swedish army in Germany beginning in 1630, and from 1641 to 1645 he commanded the Swedish army in Germany. He won the battle of Breitenfeld in 1642 and the battle of Jankov in 1645. Torstensson’s march on Jutland in 1643–44 helped lead to Sweden’s victory over Denmark.