Battle of Prague (1648)

Battle of Prague
Part of the Thirty Years' War
Date 25 June - 1 November, 1648 Location Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Habsburg Monarchy Result Disputed; the Swedes loot the town but fail to capture the Old Town
Belligerents
Swedish Empire	Bohemia
Commanders and leaders
Hans Königsmarck Prince Carl Gustaf	Count Rudolph Colloredo-Wallsee Jiří Plachý (A Jesuit priest leading a group of students called the Academic Legion)
Strength
cca 7500 soldiers (unconfirmed) plus 6000 reinforcements led by Charles X Gustav of Sweden	cca 2000 soldiers, plus local militia and Academic Legion
Casualties and losses
500 dead, 700 wounded	219 dead, 475 wounded

The Battle of Prague between 25 June and 1 November 1648 was the last action of the Thirty Years' War. General Hans Christoff von Königsmarck, commanding Sweden's flying column, entered the city and captured Prague Castle on the western bank of the Vltava river. The Swedes attempted to enter the Old Town on the eastern bank of the river, but were repulsed on the Charles Bridge. When a third Swedish army commanded by Prince Carl Gustaf came close to Prague, all three Swedish armies launched a number of attacks against the city which thanks to the citizen soldiers and strong fortifications resisted. When in November Carl Gustaf received a report about the signed Peace, he ordered his troops to leave.

Unable to enter the city, the Swedes settled for looting the Castle. Many of the treasures collected by Emperor Rudolf II (such as the Codex Argenteus) were taken to Sweden, whereof some can be found in Drottningholm Palace.

The battle was referenced in Sabaton's song "1648"