Magnus Stenbock

Count Magnus Gustafsson Stenbock (1664 - 1717), Swedish military officer.

Related Topics:
1664 - 1717 - Swedish

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He was born 12 August 1664 in Stockholm. He was the son of Gustaf Otto Stenbock and Christina Catharine de la Gardie.

Related Topics:
Stockholm - Gustaf Otto Stenbock - Christina Catharine de la Gardie

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He was educated at Uppsala and at Paris, chose the military profession, and spent some years in the service of the United Provinces.

Related Topics:
Uppsala - Paris - United Provinces

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Returning to Sweden he entered the Army, and in 1688 became major. He served with the Swedes in the Low Countries and on the Rhine, distinguishing himself for skill and courage at Fleurus. During the War of the Grand Alliance he was employed not only in the field but also as a confidential agent in diplomatic missions.

Related Topics:
Army - 1688 - Low Countries - Fleurus - War of the Grand Alliance

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Soon afterwards as colonel of the Dalecarlian regiment he led it in the astonishing victory of Narva. He distinguished himself still more at Dünamünde, Klissow and Cracow. In 1703 he fought the successful battle of Pultusk, and three years later, having reached the rank of general of infantry, was made Governor-General of the dominion of Terra Scania, which he delivered from the Danish invaders by the decisive victory of Helsingborg.

Related Topics:
Dalecarlia - Astonishing victory of Narva - Dünamünde - Klissow - Cracow - Battle of Pultusk - Governor-General - Dominion - Terra Scania - Victory of Helsingborg

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He was a great favorite with Charles XII in the earlier campaigns, but later the two drifted somewhat apart. It is recorded that the king, before whom General Lagercrona accused Stenbock of drunkenness, replied that Stenbock drunk was more capable of giving orders than Lagercrona sober.

Related Topics:
Charles XII - General Lagercrona

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His activities were not confined to war and diplomacy; the University of Lund was under his care as Chancellor for some years, and he had no mean skill as a painter and a poet. He became Privy Councillor in 1710, and Charles gave him his field marshal's baton in 1712. In the same year he invaded Mecklenburg (with but 9000 men) in order to cover Stralsund in Swedish Pomerania. He won the brilliant action of Gadebusch, but numbers prevailed against him in the end. Cut off in Tonning he was forced to surrender after a gallant resistance, and passed into captivity. Five years of harsh treatment in Copenhagen brought his life to a close on February 23rd 1717.

Related Topics:
University of Lund - Privy Councillor - Field marshal - Mecklenburg - Stralsund - Swedish Pomerania - Gadebusch - Tonning - Copenhagen

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