Editing Battle of Nördlingen (1634) (section)

==Battle==
[[File:Nordlingen1 es.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|'''Phase 1: 6 September 5:00 to 6:00 am'''; the Swedes (blue) take the Albuch, before being repulsed by Spanish-Imperial troops (red)]]

Early on 5 September, the Protestant army broke camp, feinted west as if retreating to [[Ulm]], then moved across country to seize a line of hills two kilometres south of Nördlingen.{{Sfn|Wilson|2009|p=545}} From west to east, these included the Himmelrech, Ländle, Lachberg, Heselberg, and Albuch, the latter in particular being key to the Spanish left. The [[Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand|Cardinal-Infante]] ordered these to be occupied, with veterans from the [[Tercio of Fuenclara]] holding the Heselberg.{{Sfn|Benavides|2021|p=129}}

Later in the afternoon, infantry led by [[Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar]] made contact with Spanish and Imperial [[Picket (military)|pickets]] on the Himmelreich, which was quickly captured. They then occupied the Ländle and Lachberg hills, before their advance was stopped by Spanish troops holding the Heselberg. Despite a heavy artillery bombardment, a number of Swedish assaults were repulsed, before Horn ordered a halt just before midnight.{{Sfn|Benavides|2021|p=129}} 

The delay allowed Cerbellón and the ''Tercio of Toraldo'' time to construct defensive positions on the Albuch, and around 2:00 am on 6 September, the Heselberg was abandoned.{{Sfn|Benavides|2021|p=130}}{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=236}} This meant it was defended by 6,600 Spanish veterans led by Leganés and Cerbellón, 1,500 Bavarian infantry under [[Ottavio Piccolomini]], a battery of 14 guns, along with 2,800 cavalry.{{Sfn|Wilson|2009|p=546}} The rest of the Imperial army was left holding a line running north to Nördlingen.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=236}} 

The defenders of the Albuch faced 8,800 infantry commanded by Horn, along with 4,000 cavalry and 800 dragoons, led by Scharffenstein.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=237}} Bernhard and the remaining troops took position opposite their Imperial counterparts, with 2,000–2,500 Württemberg militia in the rear protecting the baggage train. Bernhard was tasked with preventing the Imperial right reinforcing their colleagues on the Albuch, although it soon became clear he was badly outnumbered, and was thus restricted to limited skirmishing.{{Sfn|Wedgwood|2005|p=373}} 

[[File:Nordlingen2 es.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|'''Phase 2; 7:30 am to 10:30 am'''; a series of Swedish-German infantry and cavalry assaults are repulsed]]

At 5:00 am on 6 September, the Swedish artillery opened fire, followed by a general assault on the Albuch led by the Scottish and Vitzhum brigades, along with 3 cavalry squadrons. Scharffenstein's cavalry were quickly repelled by their Spanish counterparts, but the relatively inexperienced infantry gave ground.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=240}} Horn believed he was on the verge of a great victory, but as the Imperial troops fell back in disorder, they were rallied by veterans from the [[Tercio of Idiáquez]], who drove forward in a sudden counterattack, taking their opponents by surprise and re-forming their lines.{{Sfn|Wilson|2020|p=869}} {{Sfn|Benavides|2021|p=130}} By 6:00 am, Imperial forces were back in control of the Albuch.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=240}}

Whilst reorganising his scattered infantry, Horn kept up the pressure by ordering a second attack, which was stopped short of the Spanish positions with heavy losses. followed by another attack with all available troops, which also failed.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=241}} With his forces largely unengaged, at 7:30 am Bernhard transferred the Thurn brigade to join a series of assaults, which persisted for another hour without success.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|pp=240=241}} Their numerical superiority allowed Leganés and Gallas to send a constant stream of reinforcements to support those holding the Albuch.{{Sfn|Wedgwood|2005|p=375}} 

[[File:Nordlingen3 es.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|'''Phase 3: late morning'''; Horn retreats, and a general Spanish-Imperial advance routs the Protestant army]]

Trying to prevent this, Bernhard moved his cavalry against the Imperial right, but they were repulsed and forced back to their previous positions. The troops assaulting the Albuch were exhausted, and after one last attack around 10:00 am, Horn ordered them to hold their positions until nightfall, before withdrawing towards Ulm. However, seeing their adversaries pulling back, the Spanish-Imperial troops began a general advance, routing Bernhard's cavalry and allowing [[Croats (military unit)|Croat light cavalry]] to outflank his infantry. At the same time, combined Imperial, Bavarian, and Spanish forces attacked the Heselberg, driving those holding it into the woods.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|pp=241-242}} 

Horn's men were now attacked on two sides, from troops advancing from the Albuch, and Imperial cavalry charging out of the woods, cutting off his retreat.{{Sfn|Picouet|2019|p=242}} His army disintegrated, and suffered between 12,000 to 14,000 casualties, compared to 3,500 for their opponents.{{Efn|Other sources suggest the Protestant losses were as high as 16,000{{Sfn|Lorenzana|2018|p=101}}}} This included 4,000 prisoners, most of whom were enrolled in the Imperial army. Scharffenstein, previously a senior Bavarian commander, was captured and later executed for treason, while Horn was held in custody until 1642.{{Sfn|Parker|1997|p=192}} Bernhard and von Taupadel reached [[Heilbronn]] with the survivors a few days later.{{Sfn|Wilson|2009|p=547}}