Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad, Field Marshal and military engineer.
Born in Forstena, Västergötland, he was the son of Torsten Lennartsson and Märta Nilsdotter Posse. Lennart's father was a supporter of King Sigismund III Vasa and, for a while, the commandant of Älvsborg Fortress. Because of Torsten's loyalty to Sigismund, he and his wife fled into exile the year of Lennart's birth; Lennart remaining with relatives during that time.
When Lennart was 15 years old he became a page to King Gustavus Adolphus. At age 20, he made a grand tour, getting to know foreign countries. In January 1626, he was an ensign at the battle of Wallhof. He also served during the Prussian campaigns of 1628-29.
In 1629, Lennart was put in charge of the Swedish artillery, under which his guidance contributed to the victories of Breitenfeld and Lech. That same year, he was taken prisoner at Alte Veste and imprisoned for nearly a year at Ingolstadt.
In 1633 Torstensson married the Baroness Beata de la Gardie (1612-1680), daughter of the Privy Councillour Johan de la Gardie (1582-1640) and Katarina Kristersdotter Oxenstierna (-1625). They had a son, Anders, who also served as a Privy Councillour and Governor General.
He served with distinction under Johan Banér at the Battle of Wittstock and during the defense of Pomerania in 1637-38, and also at the Battle of Chemnitz and in the raid into Bohemia in 1639.
Due to illness contracted during imprisonment, he returned to Sweden in 1641, whereupon he was made a member of the Privy Council. The death of Banér that same year resulted in Torstensson being recalled to Germany as general of the Swedish armies and Governor General of Pomerania. At the same time, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
In 1642, he marched through Brandenburg and Silesia into Moravia, taking all of the principal fortresses along the way. Returning through Saxony he decimated the imperial army at the second Battle of Breitenfeld.
In 1643 he again invaded Moravia, but was suddenly recalled to invade Denmark. In 1644 he lead his troops into Germany for a third time, where they routed the imperial forces at the Battle of Jüterbog.
Early in 1645 he entered Bohemia and was victorious in the Battle of Jankau, which opened the way to Vienna. Though he managed to take one end of the Danube bridge, his exhausted troops were unable to penetrate any further. By December of that year Torstensson, crippled by gout, resigned his commission, and he returned to Sweden in the early summer of 1646.
In 1647 he was created a count, and from 1648 until his death in 1651, Torstensson ruled all of the western provinces of Sweden as Governor General.
Torstensson died April 7, 1651, and was buried alongside Sweden's royalty in the Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.
Born in Forstena, Västergötland, he was the son of Torsten Lennartsson and Märta Nilsdotter Posse. Lennart's father was a supporter of King Sigismund III Vasa and, for a while, the commandant of Älvsborg Fortress. Because of Torsten's loyalty to Sigismund, he and his wife fled into exile the year of Lennart's birth; Lennart remaining with relatives during that time.
When Lennart was 15 years old he became a page to King Gustavus Adolphus. At age 20, he made a grand tour, getting to know foreign countries. In January 1626, he was an ensign at the battle of Wallhof. He also served during the Prussian campaigns of 1628-29.
In 1629, Lennart was put in charge of the Swedish artillery, under which his guidance contributed to the victories of Breitenfeld and Lech. That same year, he was taken prisoner at Alte Veste and imprisoned for nearly a year at Ingolstadt.
In 1633 Torstensson married the Baroness Beata de la Gardie (1612-1680), daughter of the Privy Councillour Johan de la Gardie (1582-1640) and Katarina Kristersdotter Oxenstierna (-1625). They had a son, Anders, who also served as a Privy Councillour and Governor General.
He served with distinction under Johan Banér at the Battle of Wittstock and during the defense of Pomerania in 1637-38, and also at the Battle of Chemnitz and in the raid into Bohemia in 1639.
Due to illness contracted during imprisonment, he returned to Sweden in 1641, whereupon he was made a member of the Privy Council. The death of Banér that same year resulted in Torstensson being recalled to Germany as general of the Swedish armies and Governor General of Pomerania. At the same time, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
In 1642, he marched through Brandenburg and Silesia into Moravia, taking all of the principal fortresses along the way. Returning through Saxony he decimated the imperial army at the second Battle of Breitenfeld.
In 1643 he again invaded Moravia, but was suddenly recalled to invade Denmark. In 1644 he lead his troops into Germany for a third time, where they routed the imperial forces at the Battle of Jüterbog.
Early in 1645 he entered Bohemia and was victorious in the Battle of Jankau, which opened the way to Vienna. Though he managed to take one end of the Danube bridge, his exhausted troops were unable to penetrate any further. By December of that year Torstensson, crippled by gout, resigned his commission, and he returned to Sweden in the early summer of 1646.
In 1647 he was created a count, and from 1648 until his death in 1651, Torstensson ruled all of the western provinces of Sweden as Governor General.
Torstensson died April 7, 1651, and was buried alongside Sweden's royalty in the Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.
Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad, Field Marshal and military engineer.
Born in Forstena, Västergötland, he was the son of Torsten Lennartsson and Märta Nilsdotter Posse. Lennart's father was a supporter of King Sigismund III Vasa and, for a while, the commandant of Älvsborg Fortress. Because of Torsten's loyalty to Sigismund, he and his wife fled into exile the year of Lennart's birth; Lennart remaining with relatives during that time.
When Lennart was 15 years old he became a page to King Gustavus Adolphus. At age 20, he made a grand tour, getting to know foreign countries. In January 1626, he was an ensign at the battle of Wallhof. He also served during the Prussian campaigns of 1628-29.
In 1629, Lennart was put in charge of the Swedish artillery, under which his guidance contributed to the victories of Breitenfeld and Lech. That same year, he was taken prisoner at Alte Veste and imprisoned for nearly a year at Ingolstadt.
In 1633 Torstensson married the Baroness Beata de la Gardie (1612-1680), daughter of the Privy Councillour Johan de la Gardie (1582-1640) and Katarina Kristersdotter Oxenstierna (-1625). They had a son, Anders, who also served as a Privy Councillour and Governor General.
He served with distinction under Johan Banér at the Battle of Wittstock and during the defense of Pomerania in 1637-38, and also at the Battle of Chemnitz and in the raid into Bohemia in 1639.
Due to illness contracted during imprisonment, he returned to Sweden in 1641, whereupon he was made a member of the Privy Council. The death of Banér that same year resulted in Torstensson being recalled to Germany as general of the Swedish armies and Governor General of Pomerania. At the same time, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
In 1642, he marched through Brandenburg and Silesia into Moravia, taking all of the principal fortresses along the way. Returning through Saxony he decimated the imperial army at the second Battle of Breitenfeld.
In 1643 he again invaded Moravia, but was suddenly recalled to invade Denmark. In 1644 he lead his troops into Germany for a third time, where they routed the imperial forces at the Battle of Jüterbog.
Early in 1645 he entered Bohemia and was victorious in the Battle of Jankau, which opened the way to Vienna. Though he managed to take one end of the Danube bridge, his exhausted troops were unable to penetrate any further. By December of that year Torstensson, crippled by gout, resigned his commission, and he returned to Sweden in the early summer of 1646.
In 1647 he was created a count, and from 1648 until his death in 1651, Torstensson ruled all of the western provinces of Sweden as Governor General.
Torstensson died April 7, 1651, and was buried alongside Sweden's royalty in the Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.
Born in Forstena, Västergötland, he was the son of Torsten Lennartsson and Märta Nilsdotter Posse. Lennart's father was a supporter of King Sigismund III Vasa and, for a while, the commandant of Älvsborg Fortress. Because of Torsten's loyalty to Sigismund, he and his wife fled into exile the year of Lennart's birth; Lennart remaining with relatives during that time.
When Lennart was 15 years old he became a page to King Gustavus Adolphus. At age 20, he made a grand tour, getting to know foreign countries. In January 1626, he was an ensign at the battle of Wallhof. He also served during the Prussian campaigns of 1628-29.
In 1629, Lennart was put in charge of the Swedish artillery, under which his guidance contributed to the victories of Breitenfeld and Lech. That same year, he was taken prisoner at Alte Veste and imprisoned for nearly a year at Ingolstadt.
In 1633 Torstensson married the Baroness Beata de la Gardie (1612-1680), daughter of the Privy Councillour Johan de la Gardie (1582-1640) and Katarina Kristersdotter Oxenstierna (-1625). They had a son, Anders, who also served as a Privy Councillour and Governor General.
He served with distinction under Johan Banér at the Battle of Wittstock and during the defense of Pomerania in 1637-38, and also at the Battle of Chemnitz and in the raid into Bohemia in 1639.
Due to illness contracted during imprisonment, he returned to Sweden in 1641, whereupon he was made a member of the Privy Council. The death of Banér that same year resulted in Torstensson being recalled to Germany as general of the Swedish armies and Governor General of Pomerania. At the same time, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
In 1642, he marched through Brandenburg and Silesia into Moravia, taking all of the principal fortresses along the way. Returning through Saxony he decimated the imperial army at the second Battle of Breitenfeld.
In 1643 he again invaded Moravia, but was suddenly recalled to invade Denmark. In 1644 he lead his troops into Germany for a third time, where they routed the imperial forces at the Battle of Jüterbog.
Early in 1645 he entered Bohemia and was victorious in the Battle of Jankau, which opened the way to Vienna. Though he managed to take one end of the Danube bridge, his exhausted troops were unable to penetrate any further. By December of that year Torstensson, crippled by gout, resigned his commission, and he returned to Sweden in the early summer of 1646.
In 1647 he was created a count, and from 1648 until his death in 1651, Torstensson ruled all of the western provinces of Sweden as Governor General.
Torstensson died April 7, 1651, and was buried alongside Sweden's royalty in the Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.
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