Battle of Wimpfen, 6 May 1622

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Battle during Thirty Years War. The three Protestant armies were struggling to meet, which would give them the strength to oppose the Imperial forces. Mansfeld and George Frederick, margrave of Baden, decided to cross the Neckar at different points, in an attempt to split the Catholic armies of Tilly and Cordoba. The plan failed, and the margrave of Baden found himself faced by Tilly, Cordoba and most of their army at the village of Wimpfen. Despite being outnumbered, Baden was not outclassed. His army was loyal and enthusiastic, while the Imperial forces were under a split command and were very badly supplied. Baden placed his cannons on a low hill that dominated the flat area, and started the battle with a heavy cannonade supported by a cavalry attack that for a moment looked to be close to destroying the Spanish line. The face of the battle was changed by a lucky shot that detonated Baden's arsenal. The Imperial armies saw what looked like a white-robed woman appear above the Protestant cannons, after which the cannonade stopped, and seizing on it as a miracle renewed their attack. Tilly and Cordoba launched a joint attack on the hill, and after a stiff fight the Badeners were forced to flee, abandoning their guns. George Frederick was removed from the war, although two thirds of his army soon reformed, and Cordoba had suffered just as many losses, while Mansfeld was able to cross the Necker unopposed.

Thirty Years War Index - Thirty Years War Books

The Thirty Years War , C.V.Wedgewood. Despite its age (first published in 1938), this is still one of the best english language narratives of this most complex of wars, tracing the intricate dance of diplomacy and combat that involved all of Europe in the fate of Germany.
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (28 December 2000), Battle of Wimpfen, 6 May 1622, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_wimpfen.html

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