Battle of Mühlberg

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Mühlberg
partof=Schmalkaldic War
date=24 April 1547
place=Mühlberg, Saxony
result=Decisive Imperial–Spanish victory
combatant1=Schmalkaldic League
combatant2=flag|Holy Roman Empire
commander1=flagicon|Hesse Philip of Hesse
commander2=flagicon|Holy Roman Empire Emperor Charles V
strength1=12,000 infantry
3,000 cavalry
15 guns
strength2=25,000 infantry
4,500 cavalry
20 guns
casualties1=8,000 dead or wounded
casualties2=200 dead or wounded The Battle of Mühlberg was a large battle at Mühlberg in the German of Electorate of Saxony during the Protestant Reformation at which the Catholic princes of the Holy Roman Empire led by Emperor Charles V decisively defeated the Schmalkaldic League of Protestant princes. The Schmalkaldic League's commanders could not agree to any sort of military actions on the battlefield, thereby allowing Charles V and his forces to run through the League's defences.

Charles was 47 years old at the time, and suffering from gout. He was therefore carried to the battle in a litter, rather than on the great warhorse in modern armour depicted by his court painter.

The battle began early in the morning. Charles's forces, who were mostly Spanish levies and mercenaries, took advantage of a heavy mist to outflank the Schmalkaldic forces. The Schmalkaldic force was taken completely by surprise and, after a token resistance, fled.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/aow1617/MuehlbergUK.html Battle of Mühlberg] An analysis of the battle.