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Simon Grundel-Helmfelt

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Baron Simon Grundel-Helmfelt (16171677) was a Swedish Field marshal.

Served in the Thirty Years' War from 1641. Distinguished himself at the Battle of Breitenfeld and received his first commission.

Knighted in 1646, when he changed his name from Grundel to Grundel-Helmfelt. Wounded outside Rain am Lech by a musket bullet later that year. In 1649 promoted Colonel of the Artillery and in 1655 General of the Infantry. Appointed Governor of Riga in 1656, where he successfully defended the town against tsar Alexej and his army of 90,000 men, and then Governor-General of Ingria in 1659.

Returned to Stockholm in 1676 to become Commander in chief of the Swedish army during the Scanian War. Helmfelt is most notable for the overwhelming victory he won despite being heavily outnumbered at the Battle of Lund. He was killed in the following year at the Battle of Landskrona.

Even if his father was the mayor of Stockholm, Helmfelt was a man of the people and though he was knighted and received the highest rank in the army.