Lorens von der Linde
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baron Lorens von der Linde | |
|---|---|
 1661 portrait | |
| Born | 20 July 1610 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died | 25 June 1670 (aged 59) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Allegiance | Sweden |
| Rank | Field marshal |
| Conflicts | |
Baron Lorens von der Linde (20 July 1610 – 25 June 1670) was a Swedish general and nobleman. After an education at Leiden University he joined a German army and commanded a Swedish regiment in the 1643–1645 Torstenson War. Linde fought in the 1645 Battle of Jankau and Siege of Brno and other actions in the remainder of the Thirty Years' War. He was appointed to the war council and Privy Council of Christina, Queen of Sweden in 1651 and made a baron in 1653. Linde retained his titles and roles under Christina's successor, Charles X Gustav, and became a close confidant of the new king. He accompanied Charles in the Northern War of 1655–1660 against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and was placed in command of Swedish forces in Pomerania and Prussia. After Charles' death in 1660, Linde remained active on the war council and the privy council. He was made lieutenant field marshal in 1658 and field marshal in 1665.
Linde was born on 20 July 1610 in Stockholm, the son of civil servant Erik Larsson von der Linde, who had been born in Holland.[1][2] On 17 February 1627, he enrolled at Leiden University, in Holland. After his studies, Linde joined a German army. By the start of the Torstenson War (part of the Thirty Years' War) between Sweden and Denmark–Norway in 1643, he was a colonel in command of a regiment of the Swedish army of Lennart Torstensson. Linde led his regiment in the 6 March 1645 Battle of Jankau, a victory for Sweden over the Holy Roman Empire. He was also present at the 1645 Siege of Brno and other actions.[1] Linde returned to Sweden in 1645 and was offered the position of master of the stables by Christina, Queen of Sweden. Linde wrote to Carl Gustaf Wrangel, commander in chief of the Swedish forces in the field, to complain that he would rather be with his musketeers on campaign than with the fine ladies of the court.[3] Linde was promoted to major-general on 29 May 1647 and on 30 July was given command of the garrison at Stade, Lower Saxony.[1]
Linde became a member of the Swedish war council in April 1651 and the Privy Council in 1653. Linde was appointed a baron by Christina in 1653 and granted land in Medelpad. Later that same year he was made the first commander of a new company of the Life Guards that consisted only of noblemen.[1]
