Otto Arnold von Paykull
Encyclopedia
Otto Arnold von Paykull (b. ca 1662 in Swedish Livonia
– d. February 4, 1707 in Stockholm
, Sweden
), was a Livonian officer
in service of the Electorate of Saxony
.
He was born around 1662 in Swedish Livonia
. He was a page at the Royal Court of Saxony in 1677 and in 1678 he joined the Saxonian Guard. After some years in French service he returned to Saxony where he eventually became Lieutenant General
around 1700.
He took part in the Saxonian army
that tried to stop the Swedish Crossing of the Daugava
in 1701. He was injured during this fight and left the service for some years, but returned in 1704 heading a cavalry regiment. He was captured by the Swedes at the Battle of Warsaw
in 1705. He was brought to Stockholm where he was executed on February 4, 1707 for high treason due to his service for Saxony although he was born in a Swedish province.
Otto Arnold von Paykull was also known as an alchemist
and even tried to escape execution by promising annual deliverance of gold to king Charles XII of Sweden
, but it was all in vain.
Swedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
– d. February 4, 1707 in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, 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....
), was a Livonian officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in service of the Electorate of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
.
He was born around 1662 in Swedish Livonia
Swedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
. He was a page at the Royal Court of Saxony in 1677 and in 1678 he joined the Saxonian Guard. After some years in French service he returned to Saxony where he eventually became Lieutenant General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
around 1700.
He took part in the Saxonian army
Royal Saxon Army
-Overview:The Royal Saxon Army was under the command of the Rulers of Saxony. With the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine by Napoleon the Royal Saxon Army joined the French "La Grande Armée" along with 37 other German states. The commander of the Royal Saxon Army at this time, was...
that tried to stop the Swedish Crossing of the Daugava
Crossing of the Daugava
The Crossing of the Düna on July 9, 1701 was a Swedish push into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the Swedes' victory at the Narva in late 1700. The Swedish king Charles XII was in hot pursuit king Augustus II the Strong of Poland and Saxony, who was commanding Saxon and Russian troops...
in 1701. He was injured during this fight and left the service for some years, but returned in 1704 heading a cavalry regiment. He was captured by the Swedes at the Battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1705)
The Battle of Warsaw took place on 31 July 1705 near Warsaw. Swedish forces under Carl Nieroth defeated the Polish-Lithuanian-Saxonian forces under Otto Arnold von Paykull.-Background:...
in 1705. He was brought to Stockholm where he was executed on February 4, 1707 for high treason due to his service for Saxony although he was born in a Swedish province.
Otto Arnold von Paykull was also known as an alchemist
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
and even tried to escape execution by promising annual deliverance of gold to king Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
, but it was all in vain.