The Battle of Vänersborg was fought between Swedish and Norwegian forces during the Torstenson War in 1645.[1] The Swedes were victorious and the Norwegians retreated to Bohuslän.[citation needed] The Dano-Norwegian commander was Henrik Bielke.[1] A hundred men, led by captain Alexander Hamilton, had been assigned to the Swedish fortifications.[2] In the initial attack, Norwegian troops lost 24 men, whereas the Swedish defenders lost five men, among them one corporal.[1] The attack came a few months after Vänersborg had been burned to the ground in an attack the previous year.[3]

Battle of Vänersborg
Part of the Torstenson War
Date1645
Location
Result Swedish victory
Territorial
changes
Norwegians retreat into Bohuslän
Belligerents
 Swedish Empire  Denmark–Norway
Commanders and leaders
Swedish Empire Alexander Hamilto Denmark–Norway Henrik Bielke
Units involved
Swedish Empire Vänersborg garrison Unknown
Strength
100 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
5 killed 24 killed

The Swedish forces repelled three attacks before the sieging forces retreated.[4] This marked the end of attacks on Vänersborg during the Torstenson War.[4] Bielke and the Norwegian forces had to leave the area after the Swedish lieutenant colonel Per Lillie had returned with more Swedish troops.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Extract Skrifwelse daterat i Tunum Sochn i Wester-Götland den 5. Febr", Ordinari Post Tijdender. Issue 8, 1645.
  2. ^ Munthe 1901, p. 111.
  3. ^ "Vad blev kvar då staden flyttades?". Vänersborgs museum (in Swedish). 2017-02-01. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b Corin, Carl-Fredrik (1944). Vänersborgs historia: Tiden till 1834 (in Swedish). p. 69.
  5. ^ Munthe 1901, p. 134.
  • Munthe, Carl Oscar (1901). Hannibalsfeiden 1643–45 : Den norske hærs bloddåb.