Battle of Strasbourg Bridge
| Battle of Strasbourg Bridge | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Thirty Years' War | |||||||
The Rhine river with Strasbourg in distance during the 17th century, by Wenceslaus Hollar | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
Sweden Heilbronn League |
Holy Roman Empire Catholic League | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Otto Louis |
Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine Johann von Werth | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 6,000–7,000 |
3,000 cavalry 1,500–2,000 infantry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 300–2,000 | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Strasbourg Bridge, 26 to 27 September 1634, took place during the Thirty Years' War, outside the Free imperial city of Strasbourg. Following their defeat at Nördlingen on 6 September by an Imperial-Spanish force, the Swedish commander, Otto Louis, tried to retreat over the Rhine using the Strasbourg bridge.
Led by Charles IV of Lorraine and Johann von Werth, the forces of the Catholic League caught up with the Swedish rearguard at Willstätt. They then attacked the entrenchments near the Strasbourg bridge in Kehl, as the Swedes were crossing the Rhine. The battle lasted for three hours and culminated with fighting on the bridge, before the Swedes successfully retreated into Strasbourg.