The death of Wallenstein

by F. Schiller translated by J.M. Rakotolahy

Chapter Five: The death of Wallenstein

 

 

The death of Wallenstein made the nomination of a new Generalissimus necessary and the Emperor gave in, now, finally, to the exhortations of the Spanish to elevate to the dignity of King of Hungary his son Ferdinand. Under his reign, the Count of Gallas who exercised the function of military commander lead the commandment while the Prince only brought to this post only specifically his name and reputation. Soon a considerable military power gathered itself under the flags of Ferdinand, the Duke of Lothringia lead in person the infantry and from Italy appeared the Cardinal Infant with 10 000 men to strengthen his army. In order to drive the enemy from the Danube, the new military commander undertook what people could not have expected from his predecessor, the occupation of the city of Regensburg.

 

In vain, did Duke Bernhard of Weimar penetrate in the inner part of Bavaria, in order to lock out the enemy from this city; Ferdinand pushed the occupation forward with a resolved earnestness and the Imperial city opened to him, after the most obstinate resistance, the gates. Donauwörth faced soon afterward a similar fate and now, Nördlingen in Swabia would also be besieged. The loss of so many imperial cities must have impacted the more sensitively to the Swedish Party, as the friendship of this city was, now, so decisive for the luck of their weapons, hence, indifference towards the fate of the same city could be made the lesser responsible. It acquired them the indelible shame of abandoning in necessity their fellow allies and to give way to the revenge of an irreconcilable winner.

 

Motivated by these reasons, the Swedish army moved itself, now, to Nördlingen under the leadership of Horn and Bernhard von Weimar resolved to terrorize this city even at the cost of a battle. The enterprise was risky as the power of the enemy was noticeably superior to that of the Swedish and intelligence recommended under these conditions not to attack, as the hostile might must separate itself in a short time and the determination of the Italian troops called them to the Netherlands. People could, in the meantime, chose such a position that Nördlingen would be covering and the supply would be taken to the enemy. All these grounds made Gustav Horn prevailing in the Swedish warring council; however, his presentations did not find any voice in the minds which was dizzied by a long warring chance, believed to take in the advices of intelligence only the voices of fear. Outvoted by the higher reputation of Duke Bernhard, Gustav Horn did resolve, reluctantly, to the battle whose unfortunate outcome a dark premonition has already announced him in advance.

 

The whole fate of the encounter appeared to depend on the occupation of a hill which dominated the imperial camp. The attempt to seize this same hill still during the night, was not succeeded because the arduous transport of the canons through defile and forest delayed the march of the troops. As people appeared towards midnight before it, the enemy has already taken the hill and has defended it through strong trenches. People expected, hence, the break of the day to storm them. The monstrous bravery of the Swedes made way through all the hinders, the moon like trenches would be assaulted luckily by each one of the brigades commanded to that purpose; however as both, at the same time, pressed from opposite sides in the entrenchments, hence, they were face to face and confused themselves. In this unfortunate moment, it happened that a powder barrel exploded in the air and caused the greatest disorder among the Swedish populations.

 

The imperial cavalry broke into the torn ranks and the escape would be general. No exhortation of their general could convince the runaway fighters to renew the attack. He decided, hence, in order to affirm these important posts, to lead against it new people; however, in the meantime, some Spanish regiments have taken it and any attempt to conquer it would be prevented by the heroic bravery of this troop. One of the regiment sent there by Bernhard made assaults seven times and would be pushed back seven times. Soon, people realized the disadvantage to have not got hold of this post.

 

The fire of the hostile canons from the hill incurred to the bordering wing of the Swedes a fearsome downfall that Gustav Horn who lead it, must resolve into withdrawal. Instead of covering this withdrawal of his rescuing troops and to be able to stop the incursion of the enemy, will Duke Bernhard himself be driven in the plains by the superior military power of the enemy, where his fleeing cavalry brought into confusion the people of Horn and made total the downfall and the fugitives. Nearly the whole infantry would be take prisoners or fallen, more than 12 000 men remained dead on the theatre of war; 80 canons against 4000 carriages and 300 banners and flags fell into the imperial hands. Gustav Horn himself was taken along with the three other generals. Duke Bernhard saved with courage some weak components of the army which only gathered again in Frankfort under his flags. The downfall of Nördlingen cost the Imperial chancellor a second sleepless night in Germany. Immeasurable was the loss which they suffered. The superiority on the field was now at once lost for the Swedes and with them the confidence of all the fellow allies which people anyway thanked only the enduring warring fortune.

 

A dangerous separation menaced the whole protestant alliance into defeat. Fear and terror seized the whole party and the catholic emerged with enthusiastic triumph from their deep fall down. Sweden and the closest circle received the first consequences of the fall of Nördlingen and Württemberg particularly would be overwhelmed by the victorious army. All the members of the Alliance of Heilbronn trembled before the rage of the Emperor; whoever could flee, saved himself to Strasbourg and the helpless Imperial cities expected with fear their fate. Showing some more restraint towards the besieged would have led back all these weaker authorities under the prevalence of the Emperor. However, the hardship which people proved also against the ones who submitted themselves voluntarily brought the remaining into doubt and encouraged them into the most active resistance.

Author's Note

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