Battle of Landskrona

The Battle of Landskrona was fought on the Ylleshed moore, outside the town of Landskrona, in southern Sweden onJuly 14, 1677 (Julian calendar).

Prelude

On July 12 the Swedish army of 10,000 men had just been reinforced with 4,000 peasants from Småland and left its camp near Klippan to march south. The plan was to find the Danish army that had been weakened by losses at Malmö and attack it before reinforcements could arrive from Germany and Austria via Landskrona. The Danes however, had already returned to Landskrona and camped on the hills west of the town.

The battle

Early in the morning July 14 Charles XI formed his army on four columns and started advancing towards the Danes. But as soon as the Swedes got the enemy camp in sight they noticed that it was empty. This caused some confusion among the Swedish generals. Most of them assumed that Christian V had retreated to Landskrona and that the Swedes should abort the operation. However Charles XI was determined to deliver battle and kept his army marching towards the Danish camp.

During the night Christian V had moved his army down from the hills and lined it up behind an earth wall in the intention to ambush the Swedes on the moor.

The Swedish General Ascheberg spotted the Danish troops behind the wall. The Swedish army paused for about one hour and at nine o'clock formed itself on two lines at the North-east end of the moor.

Though his generals advised against it Christian V decided to leave his...
Read More