Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach
Encyclopedia
Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach (1658–1739) was Governor General
of Swedish Estonia
from 1704 to 1706.
in the Swedish army Scanian War
under Charles XI
and served later as a major
in Swedish Pomerania
and Prussia
. In 1688 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in governor Soop's regiment in Riga
; in 1693 he was transferred to young prince Charles
's life regiment in Stockholm
.
When the Great Northern War
broke out after the prince was crowned as Charles XII, Schlippenbach raised a regiment of dragoon
s in Livonia, of which he became the colonel
. When Charles broke winter camp at Dorpat
(present-day Tartu) and headed towards Riga
in early 1701, Schlippenbach was left behind to defend the Livonian border. He won the battle of Rauge on September 5, 1701 and was subsequently promoted to major general
, but was then defeated by a large Russian force under Boris Sheremetev at Erastfer
on December 30 the same year and at Sagnitz and Hummelshof
on July 19, 1702. In 1703 he had to transfer a good part of his forces to reinforce Lewenhaupt
's in Kurland. This left him powerless to prevent Narva
and Dorpat from falling into Russian hands in 1704, the same year he was named Governor General in Reval
(present-day Tallinn).
When Lewenhaupt marched into Russia
in 1708, Schlippenbach followed as colonel of his dragoon regiment. At the battle of Poltava
he led the cavalry on the right wing and was captured. He stayed loyal to the Swedish cause for six years, but began serving Russia in 1715, dying in Moscow
in 1739.
.
Governors-General of Sweden
A Governor-General, or generalguvernör, was appointed by the Swedish monarch as his permanent representative, with both civil and military jurisdiction, over parts of Sweden, from the 17th century to the early 19th century, when constitutional changes made the office obsolete...
of Swedish Estonia
Swedish Estonia
The Duchy of Estonia , also known as Swedish Estonia, was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1561 until 1721, when it was ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad, following its capitulation in the Great Northern War. The dominion arose when the northern parts of present-day Estonia were united...
from 1704 to 1706.
Biography
Born in Livonia, Schlippenbach participated as a captainCaptain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
in the Swedish army Scanian War
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
under Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
and served later as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. In 1688 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in governor Soop's regiment in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
; in 1693 he was transferred to young prince Charles
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...
's life regiment 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...
.
When the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
broke out after the prince was crowned as Charles XII, Schlippenbach raised a regiment of dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s in Livonia, of which he became the colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. When Charles broke winter camp at Dorpat
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
(present-day Tartu) and headed towards Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in early 1701, Schlippenbach was left behind to defend the Livonian border. He won the battle of Rauge on September 5, 1701 and was subsequently promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, but was then defeated by a large Russian force under Boris Sheremetev at Erastfer
Battle of Erastfer
The battle of Erastfer took place on December 29, 1701 / December 30, 1701 / January 9 / 1702 near Erastfer in eastern Swedish Livonia between a Russian force of 12,000 men led by general Boris Sheremetev and a Swedish force of 2,200 under the command of Wolmar...
on December 30 the same year and at Sagnitz and Hummelshof
Battle of Hummelshof
Battle of Hummelshof took place on July 19, 1702 near the small town Hummelshof in Swedish Livonia . It was the second significant Russian victory in the Great Northern War.- Prelude :...
on July 19, 1702. In 1703 he had to transfer a good part of his forces to reinforce Lewenhaupt
Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt
Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt was a Swedish general.-Biography:Educated at Lund University, Rostock, Wittenberg and Uppsala, he originally pursued a career in the diplomatic arena, but found this occupation quite undesirable. He then became a soldier, served in the Austrian army against the Turks, and...
's in Kurland. This left him powerless to prevent Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
and Dorpat from falling into Russian hands in 1704, the same year he was named Governor General in Reval
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
(present-day Tallinn).
When Lewenhaupt marched into 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...
in 1708, Schlippenbach followed as colonel of his dragoon regiment. At the battle of Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
he led the cavalry on the right wing and was captured. He stayed loyal to the Swedish cause for six years, but began serving Russia in 1715, dying in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1739.
External links
.