Battle of Mühlberg

Battle of Mühlberg
Part of Schmalkaldic War
Date 24 April 1547 Location Mühlberg, Saxony Result Decisive Imperial–Spanish victory
Belligerents
Schmalkaldic League	Holy Roman Empire Spain
Commanders and leaders
Philip of Hesse	Emperor Charles V Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Strength
12,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 15 guns	25,000 infantry 4,500 cavalry 20 guns
Casualties and losses
8,000 dead or wounded	200 dead or wounded

Emperor Charles V at the Battle of Mühlberg, by Titian.

Battle of Mühlberg, Wood engraving from 1550

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

• Battle of Mühlberg An analysis of the battle.