The Battle of Luzen

November 16, 1632

Valenstein invaded Saxonia and took up Leipzig. To force him out of there Hustav Adolph led his troops from Southern Germany. Arrival of Papenheim reinforced Valenstein's army. Hustav Adolf had taken a strong position on the river Saale north from Naumburg so that Valenstein didn't dare to attack despite superiority in number. For several days the armies stood opposing each other and suffered a very bad november weather. Finally Valenstein decided to lodge his troops in the winter quarters in saxonian cities. Once Gustav Adolph learned about that he attacked immediately, hoping to crash the imperial army before they regroup again. Vallenstein sent light troops to hinder the advance of the Sweden and himself took a defensive stand near the city of Luzen. This city was surrounded by impassable meadows and swamps and therefore inaccessible. Hustav Adolf had 16300 soldiers in use, among them 5100 riders and 21 cannons. Vallenstein posed a counterforce of 12000 soldiers, of them 4000 riders and 60 cannons. The numerical and qualitative superiority of Swedish army was victorious.