Gustav Wachtmeister
Encyclopedia
Gustav Wachtmeister was a Swedish Army officer made famous at the Battle of Valkeala
in Finland
in 1789 against Russia
where he was wounded by a musket
shot to his arm, which had to be amputated. He was made the hero of the hour by King
Gustav III of Sweden
who was in desperate need of publicity as he tried to silence domestic opposition with a crushing victory over Russia
.
Swedish family in 1757 and as was common for sons of Swedish noble families, embarked on military
life at a young age, receiving a commission as an ensign
in 1772.
In 1778 he went abroad to gain experience on campaign, joining the Prussian Army
fighting Austria
in the War of Bavarian Succession
from 1778-79.
Returning to Sweden
, Wachtmeister's career flourished and by 1780 he had a posting as a lieutenant-colonel commanding a battalion in the provincial Dalecarlia regiment. He went on to fight against Russia
at the Battle of Valkeala
and in numerous others until the war ended in 1790 without any real gain for either country.
His later conquests were mainly fought against Napoleon at Pomerania
and against Russia
who in 1809 invaded Sweden
after a military coup overthrew the current King
Gustav IV. The new King
Karl XIII ordered Wachtmeister to attack the Russians
behind enemy lines which he did at the Battle of Ratan and Sävar
.
during which he retreated his men back to the coast, where they were sheltered by Naval guns, he was considered to have not acted with sufficient boldness by his superiors, and was given the option to retire voluntarily to his estates. He died in 1826, at age of 79 years.
Battle of Valkeala
Battle of Valkeala took place in Gustav III's Russian War April 29, 1790 at Valkeala in Kymi in Southern Finland and ended with a Swedish victory.- Context :...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 1789 against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
where he was wounded by a musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
shot to his arm, which had to be amputated. He was made the hero of the hour by King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
who was in desperate need of publicity as he tried to silence domestic opposition with a crushing victory over Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Military career
He was born into an aristocraticAristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
Swedish family in 1757 and as was common for sons of Swedish noble families, embarked on military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
life at a young age, receiving a commission as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in 1772.
In 1778 he went abroad to gain experience on campaign, joining the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
fighting Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in the War of Bavarian Succession
War of Bavarian Succession
The War of the Bavarian Succession was fought between the Habsburg Monarchy and a Saxon–Prussian alliance to prevent the Habsburg acquisition of the Duchy of Bavaria. The war had no battles beyond a few minor skirmishes, but still resulted in significant casualties, as several thousand soldiers...
from 1778-79.
Returning to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Wachtmeister's career flourished and by 1780 he had a posting as a lieutenant-colonel commanding a battalion in the provincial Dalecarlia regiment. He went on to fight against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the Battle of Valkeala
Battle of Valkeala
Battle of Valkeala took place in Gustav III's Russian War April 29, 1790 at Valkeala in Kymi in Southern Finland and ended with a Swedish victory.- Context :...
and in numerous others until the war ended in 1790 without any real gain for either country.
His later conquests were mainly fought against Napoleon at Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
and against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
who in 1809 invaded Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
after a military coup overthrew the current King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Gustav IV. The new King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Karl XIII ordered Wachtmeister to attack the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
behind enemy lines which he did at the Battle of Ratan and Sävar
Battle of Ratan and Sävar
The Battle of Sävar and Ratan is actually two separate battles fought a day apart. They are mentioned together as it was the same armies that fought both battles and the later battle was essentially an extension of the first one. The battle of Sävar and Ratan was the last battle on Swedish soil...
.
Personal life
After the Battle of Ratan and SävarBattle of Ratan and Sävar
The Battle of Sävar and Ratan is actually two separate battles fought a day apart. They are mentioned together as it was the same armies that fought both battles and the later battle was essentially an extension of the first one. The battle of Sävar and Ratan was the last battle on Swedish soil...
during which he retreated his men back to the coast, where they were sheltered by Naval guns, he was considered to have not acted with sufficient boldness by his superiors, and was given the option to retire voluntarily to his estates. He died in 1826, at age of 79 years.