Battle of Landskrona

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Landskrona


caption=Battle of Landskrona: Painting by Johan Philip Lemke
partof=the Scanian War
date=July 14 1677
place=Landskrona
result=Decisive Swedish victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Charles XI
Simon Grundel-Helmfelt KIA
commander2=Christian V
strength1=5,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
4,000 peasants
strength2=5,000 infantry
7,000 cavalry
casualties1=650 killed
about 1300 wounded
casualties2=about 2,500 killed, wounded or prisoners|

The Battle of Landskrona was fought on the "Ylleshed" moore, outside the town of Landskrona, in southern Sweden on July 14, 1677 (Julian calendar).

Prelude

On July 12 the Swedish army of 10,000 men had just been reinforced with 4,000 peasants from Småland and left its camp near Klippan to march south. The plan was to find the Danish army that had been weakened by losses at Malmö and attack it before reinforcements could arrive from Germany and Austria via Landskrona. The Danes however, had already returned to Landskrona and camped on the hills west of the town.

The battle

Early in the morning July 14 Charles XI formed his army on four columns and started advancing towards the Danes. But as soon as the Swedes got the enemy camp in sight they noticed that it was empty. This caused some confusion among the Swedish generals. Most of them assumed that Christian V had retreated to Landskrona and that the Swedes should abort the operation. However Charles XI was determined to deliver battle and kept his army marching towards the Danish camp.

During the night Christian V had moved his army down from the hills and lined it up behind an earth wall in the intention to ambush the Swedes on the moor.

The Swedish General Ascheberg spotted the Danish troops behind the wall. The Swedish army paused for about one hour and at nine o'clock formed it self on two lines at the North-east end of the moor.

Though his generals advised against it Christian V decided to leave his favorable position behind the wall and attack the Swedes. The two armies started advancing towards each other and were soon separated only by a small valley. The artillery exchanged fire but none of the sides were willing to attack across the dale.

Finally Charles XI and his guard on the right wing charged down the slope and up the other side. They were immediately surrounded and almost taken prisoner, but saved by the Household cavalry. The rest of the Swedish right wing followed and the battle began. After less than one hour the Danish left wing was routed and the Danish artillery in Swedish hands.

On the Danish right wing Christian V outflanked the Swedes and when Field marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt was killed the Swedish left wing was scattered. However, backed up by the 4,000 peasants the Swedes managed to escape and reorganize their left wing.

In the center the Danes took the initiative when General Russenstein attacked soon after both flanks were engaged in battle. But as his left flank was unprotected it took a lot of punishment and the Danish center slowly started dissolving. At the same time Christian V could not make the left flank of the Swedish center bulge. When the Swedish cavalry that had pursued the Danish left wing returned to the battle at the same time as the Swedish left wing was ready for action Christian V left the field at four o'clock.

At 6 o'clock all Danish troops had quit the field and the Swedes retired to the former Danish camp.

Aftermath

Reasons for the Danish defeat are said to be rivalry between Danish generals and that the Danish units had been mixed up during the night. The Danes also failed to exploit their success on the right wing, which gave the Swedes time to reorganize their units.

Though unquestionably a Swedish victory the battle had little influence on the outcome of the war. As long as the Danes were victorious at sea and held the fortified town of Landskrona they could easily bring reinforcements to Scania. The Swedish army now counted 7,000 men and this was not enough to take Landskrona. After a couple of skirmishes around Kristianstad the main part of the Swedish army marched back north to Sweden proper to find winter quarters, while Christian V shipped some of his troops back to Zealand.