Torstensson

Torstensson, LENNARD, Count of Ortala, a Swedish general, was born at Torstena on 17th August 1603. He accompanied Gustavus Adolphus to Germany in 1630, distinguished himself in the battles of his great master, and after his death fought under Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar and Banér, and in 1641 he was appointed to the supreme command of the Swedish army in Germany. He invaded Silesia, and, when driven back by the imperialists, turned and crushingly defeated them at Breitenfeld (2d November 1641). The next winter he hastened north, and in six weeks swept the Danes out of Holstein, and then drove the Austrians, who had thought to assail him in the rear, ignominiously back all the way to Bohemia. In 1645 he advanced to the walls of Vienna. He died at Stockholm on 7th April 1651.