Draft:Siege of Wismar

Siege of Wismar
Part of the Scanian War

The Siege of Wismar in 1675
Date1675
Location
Wismar, Swedish Pomerania
Result Dano-Brandenburger-Imperial victory
Territorial
changes
Wismar is captured
Belligerents
 Denmark–Norway
 Brandenburg
 Holy Roman Empire
 Swedish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Denmark–Norway Christian V
Denmark–Norway Hannibal von Degenfeldt
Denmark–Norway Maximilian Rosencrantz
Denmark–Norway Siegwert von Bibow
Denmark–Norway Johan Caspar von Cicignon
Denmark–Norway Møller
Holy Roman Empire Niels Rosencrantz
Swedish Empire Carl Gustaf Wrangel
Swedish Empire Gustav Carlson
Units involved
Unknown Swedish Empire Wismar garrison
Strength
Denmark–Norway 18,454 men
40 guns
1,200 soldiers
1,000 Burgher troops
200 cavalry
60 guns
Casualties and losses
Heavy 1,750 killed, wounded, or captured[a]

The Siege of Wismar was a successful Dano-Brandenburger-Imperial[1] siege of the then Swedish city of Wismar in the early stages of the Scanian War in 1675.

Background

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While the Brandenburg and Imperial troops were busy in eastern Pomerania, King Christian V of Denmark ordered the Danish army back into Mecklenburg in order to lay siege to Wismar, which was the most important Swedish port in the southern Baltic Sea. Wismar had natural defences consisting of wide marshlands. On the sea-side, the city was protected by logs that had been pushed into the sea-bed. The city was also protected by a town wall and moat, along with a citadel. Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Wrangel was the governor of Wismar, while Count Gustav Carlson, who was also the king's half-brother, was its commandant.[2]

The garrison consisted of 1,400 men, consisting of 1,200 soldiers and 200 cavalry, supported by around 60 cannons and some 1,000 levied burgher troops.[2]

Siege

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King Christian V, who led the Danish army of some 18,454 men and 40 cannons also received the support of two Imperial cavalry regiments commanded by Lieutenant General Niels Rosencrantz appointed to lead the siege. Rosencrantz was also a veteran soldier who had served in the previous war against Sweden.

Aftermath

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Notes

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  1. ^ Only some 650 men survived the siege

References

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  1. ^ Schimanski, Folke (2003-07-28). "Hansastad blev svensk fästning". popularhistoria.se (in Swedish). Populär Historia. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ a b Essrn 2019, p. 68.

Works cited

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  • Essen, Michael Fredholm von Essen (2019). Charles XI's War: The Scanian War between Sweden and Denmark, 1675–1679. Helion & Company. pp. 68–69. ISBN 9781804510698.
  • Björlin, Gustaf (1885). Kriget mot Danmark 1675-1679 [The war against Denmark 1675-1679] (in Swedish). Norstedt. pp. 21–27.