Editing Johan Banér (section)

==Military career==
Banér joined the [[Swedish Army]] in 1615, and distinguished himself during the Swedish [[Siege of Pskov (1615)|Siege of Pskov]].{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

He served with distinction in wars against [[Russia]] and [[Poland]], and had reached the rank of [[colonel]]{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} by the age of 25.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

In 1630, Gustavus Adolphus landed in [[Germany]] to assist German Protestant forces in the Thirty Years War, and, as one of the king's chief subordinates, Banér served in the campaign of north Germany, including leading the right wing of [[Swedish cavalry]] at the first [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]]. He was present at the taking of [[Augsburg]] and [[Munich]], and rendered conspicuous service at the [[Battle of Rain|Lech]] and at [[Donauwörth]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

At the unsuccessful assault on [[Albrecht von Wallenstein]]'s camp at the [[Alte Veste]], Banér received a wound, and soon afterwards, when Gustavus marched towards [[Lützen, Germany|Lützen]], was left in command in the west, where he opposed the imperial general [[Johann von Aldringen]]. Two years later, as Swedish field marshal, Banér, with 16,000 men, entered [[Bohemia]] and, combining with the Saxon army, marched on [[Prague]]. However, the complete defeat of [[Bernard of Saxe-Weimar]] in the first [[Battle of Nördlingen (1634)|Battle of Nördlingen]] stopped his victorious advance.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

After this event, the [[peace of Prague (1635)|Peace of Prague]] placed the Swedish army in a very precarious position, but the victories won by the united forces of  Banér and [[Alexander Leslie]] at [[Battle of Wittstock|Wittstock]] (4 October 1636), restored the paramount influence of Sweden in central Germany.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Banér, in his report to [[Christina, Queen of Sweden|Queen Christina]] on the battle of Wittstock, stated the following: "[My soldiers] would have fallen into total disorder if Field-Marshal Leslie with the five brigades of foot which he had with him during the battle had not assisted us just in time and manfully attacked and turned 4 brigades of the enemy’s infantry away from us so that we could finally gain our breath".<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/2441539/Steve_Murdoch_Kathrin_Zickermann_and_Adam_Marks_The_Battle_of_Wittstock_1636_Conflicting_Reports_on_a_Swedish_Victory_in_Germany_in_Northern_Studies_43_2012_pp.71-109 Steve Murdoch, Kathrin Zickermann and Adam Marks, ‘The Battle of Wittstock 1636: Conflicting Reports on a Swedish Victory in Germany’ in Northern Studies, 43 (2012), pp.71-109]</ref>{{sfn|Oxenstierna|1888|pp=856-866}}

However, the three combined armies were considerably inferior in force to those they had defeated, and in 1637 Banér was unable to make headway against the enemy. Rescuing with great difficulty the beleaguered garrison of [[Torgau]], he retreated beyond the [[Oder]] into [[Swedish Pomerania|Pomerania]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1639, however, he again overran northern [[Germany]], defeated the [[Electorate of Saxony|Saxons]] at [[Battle of Chemnitz|Chemnitz]] and invaded [[Bohemia]] itself. The winter of 1640–1641 Banér spent in the west. His last achievement was an audacious ''[[coup de main]]'' on the [[Danube]]. Breaking camp in mid-winter (a very rare event in the 17th century), he united with the [[France|French]] under the [[Jean-Baptiste Budes, Comte de Guébriant|Comte de Guébriant]] and surprised [[Regensburg]], where the [[Diet (assembly)|Diet]] was sitting. Only the break-up of the ice prevented the capture of the place. Banér thereupon had to retreat to [[Halberstadt]]. Here, on 10 May 1641, he died, possibly due to advanced [[liver cirrhosis]] caused by his excessive alcohol consumption,<ref name=Englund>[[Peter Englund]], 'Ofredsår: Om den svenska stormakstiden och en man i dess mitt', Atlantis (1993)</ref> after designating [[Lennart Torstenson]] as his successor. He was much beloved by his men, who bore his body with them on the field of [[Battle of Wolfenbüttel|Wolfenbüttel]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} On the other hand, the enemies of Sweden rejoiced and a parody requiem hoping that he was burning in hell was even composed in [[Bohemia]], which had been badly pillaged by Banér.<ref name=Englund /> He was buried at the [[Riddarholmen Church]] in [[Stockholm]].<ref>Åstrand, Göran; Aunver, Kristjan (1999), 'Här vilar berömda svenskar: uppslagsbok och guide'. Bromma: Ordalaget. p. 20.</ref>