The Swedish invasion of Saxony took place in 1706 during the Great Northern War, which began in 1700 when Russia, Denmark–Norway, and Saxony attacked Sweden or its ally, Holstein-Gottorp. To force Augustus II the Strong out of the war, who was the elector of Saxony and king in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Charles XII of Sweden invaded the Commonwealth; Augustus was dethroned in 1704, and, after a devastating Saxon defeat at Fraustadt, Charles XII marched against Saxony in 1706 with 20,000 men.
The supreme commander, Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, deployed the best of his 16,000 Saxon troops in Lower Lusatia. Charles XII, however, surprised his foe and marched through Silesia into Upper Lusatia on 6 September. Schulenburg withdrew as a result. Augustus, with no hope of victory, began suing for peace. Meanwhile, Charles XII marched into Saxony and bypassed the strongly fortified Dresden, capturing Leipzig on 19 September. Several smaller engagements were fought, ending in Swedish favour. Charles XII established his headquarters at Altranstädt, and the field army under Schulenburg was driven out of Saxony in the engagements at Ilmenau and Frauenwald on 22 September. The Swedes blockaded Dresden, which compelled the Saxons to sign the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706) on 24 September; Augustus had to renounce all his claims to the Polish throne and recognize Stanisław Leszczyński as king.
In Saxony, Charles XII replenished his army and waited for the Grand Alliance, concurrently fighting the War of the Spanish Succession against France, to recognize the peace. A dispute between him and the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I, brought the two rulers to the brink of war. It was settled with the Treaty of Altranstädt (1707) on 1 September, with Joseph making concessions. Charles XII departed Altranstädt the same day to begin the campaign against his last enemy, Peter I of Russia.
Background
In 1700, the Great Northern War began when the anti-Swedish coalition, consisting of Frederick IV of Denmark, Peter I of Russia, and Augustus of Saxony and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, attacked Sweden and her ally Holstein-Gottorp. Denmark–Norway, besieging Tönning at the time, was quickly forced to sign a peace treaty following a Swedish landing at Humlebæk, combined with an offensive over the Bille. Russia's attack on Swedish Ingria and Swedish Estonia was subsequently repulsed in the Battle of Narva. The following year, Saxony's attempt at capturing Riga in Swedish Livonia culminated in their defeat at Düna. As the Saxons retreated, Charles XII of Sweden launched an invasion of the Commonwealth to dethrone Augustus II.
In 1704, Augustus was dethroned in favour of Stanisław Leszczyński, who was illegally installed by the Swedes; his coronation followed in 1705, after which a treaty between Sweden and Poland was signed. Augustus, however, continued to resist the Swedes as the Elector of Saxony—Charles XII had refrained from invading Saxony to avoid provoking the Grand Alliance (fighting in the concurring War of the Spanish Succession), who were guarantors of its integrity. Tsar Peter I, who had thus far committed most of his troops in the Swedish Baltic provinces, sent his main army into the Commonwealth in support of Augustus.
A grand campaign commenced, which culminated in 1706 with the decisive defeat of the Saxon main army at Wschowa (Fraustadt), while the Russians were starved out and defeated at Grodno. With the Russian army battered, and the Saxon army destroyed, Charles XII seized the opportunity to invade the severely weakened Saxony before the Grand Alliance could intervene—his position in Poland would deteriorate if the French setbacks at Ramillies and Turin resulted in peace. By conquering Saxony, he would gain a position of power against the Alliance and a place to replenish his army before an inevitable Russian campaign.
Prelude After the defeat against Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld at Fraustadt on 13 February 1706, Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg had only 1,800 Saxon cavalry, 3,800–3,900 Saxon infantry, as well as 1,500 Russian infantry left to defend the Electorate; he hoped to increase his Saxon infantry to 9,000–10,000 men before the expected Swedish invasion. Augustus, whose aim was to unite forces with Schulenburg, withdrew with 8,000 cavalry to Kraków after his defeat. When Rehnskiöld broke up from Poznań in early summer, Augustus, now with 10,000–15,000 men, retreated to Lithuania.
On 17 July 1706, since having pursued the Russians from Grodno, Charles XII led his army from Yaroslavychi (Rivne Oblast) towards Greater Poland. He rallied with pro-Leszczyński forces at Włodzimierzówka (Volyn Oblast), before crossing the Bug at Horodło on 21 July. He reached Chełm on 24 July, passed Łęczna on 27 July and crossed the Vistula at Puławy, before encamping at Radom on 3 August. He continued his march past Nowe Miasto on 10 August, to Rawa Mazowiecka the following day. Augustus, realizing Charles XII's intentions, opened up for negotiations on 16 August. The same day, Charles XII reached Stryków and established connection with Rehnskiöld's army at Piątek. Their combined forces counted at most 24,000 Swedes. They marched into Greater Poland and over Warta on 23–24 August, arriving at Rawicz near the border of neutral Silesia (belonging to the Holy Roman Empire) on 31 August. Charles XII left about 5,000 men under Arvid Axel Mardefelt to protect Greater Poland along thousands of Polish pro-Leszczyński troops under Józef Potocki—only a small Polish contingent followed Charles XII into Saxony.
Invasion
At the time of the invasion, the Saxon defence consisted of 9,000 infantry (of which 4,000 were garrisoned in Dresden) and 2,000 cavalry and dragoons. There was also 5,000 land-militia and a few thousand experienced hunters, but their military training was considered inadequate. In total, there were at least 16,000, or 7,000 men of mixed quality, depending on sources. Schulenburg, anticipating a Swedish march through Lower Lusatia, assembled his regular troops there while most of the militia and hunters were sent to the garrisons in Dresden, Wittenberg, Leipzig with the Pleissenburg castle, and Königstein. Charles XII had roughly 250 of his own and Leszczyński's Drabants, 4,952 cavalry, 3,130 dragoons, 11,452 infantry, 200–500 Wallachian cavalry, and 50 despatch riders available for the invasion. In total, about 20,000 men. There were also 48 guns with 800 artillery gunners present (paper strength).
Charles XII marched his army towards Upper Lusatia, to the surprise of Schulenburg. The unusually dry season would contribute to a swift Swedish advance over the rivers. On 1 September, the army broke into Silesia in two columns under Charles XII and Rehnskiöld. Charles XII rode in the vanguard, alongside his Drabant Corps and the Wallachians. He marched from Rawicz, through Wąsosz (Herrnstadt) and Krzelów (Krehlau), where the columns converged, to the Oder. An enemy outpost withdrew as Charles XII crossed the river at dawn the next day, marching through Ścinawa (Steinau) to Dąbrowa Środkowa (Mittel Dammer). On 3 September, he marched through Lubin (Lüben), past Chojnów (Haynau), to Piotrowice (Petirsdorf). The following day, he went past Grodziec Castle (Gröditzberg) on his left side, to Brunów (Braunau). On 5 September, he arrived at Oleszna Podgórska (Krummöls) via Lwówek Śląski (Löwenberg).
Fruitless attempts were made by the ministers of Dresden to stop the Swedish advance by seeking the intervention of the Grand Alliance. Fearing pillaging, many Saxon inhabitants panicked at the news of the approaching Swedes. Charles XII issued letters of protection from Oleszna Podgórska on 5 September, declaring that no pillaging would occur as long as the inhabitants remained cooperative. To save his Electorate from destruction, Augustus encouraged the inhabitants to comply with Charles XII—most of them would open their doors to the invaders as a result.
On 5 September, Charles XII arrived at the border town of Gryfów Śląski (Greiffenberg), where he received a trumpeter sent by Augustus to convince him to halt his advance. The vanguard, however, crossed the border the same day. On 6 September, Charles XII crossed it by going over the Kwisa river (Queis) to Sulików (Schönberg), into Upper Lusatia.
Combat of Rosenhain Upon realising the direction of the invading Swedes, Schulenburg ordered major general Jordan into Upper Lusatia to observe their movements and to overwhelm Charles XII and his vanguard if possible. His force consisted of Fürstenberg's and his own dragoon regiments, totalling 600–700 men. Against them, Charles XII sent Colonel Görtz, who had previously been in Saxon service, with 250 men of the Life Dragoon Regiment and the Scanian Estate Dragoons, as well as 50 Wallachians. At the dawn of 7 September, Görtz found Jordan in an advantageous position behind a river, near Rosenhain and Radmeritz (between Löbau and Reichenbach).
A squadron of the Swedish Life Regiment Dragoons charged over the bridge into the closest Saxon troops who were forming into battle, causing disorder. As Jordan attempted to restore order, he was recognized by Görtz, who chased after him among the fleeing troops and pierced him twice with his sword. Meanwhile, the rest of the Swedish force crossed the river and attacked, forcing the Saxons to retreat along the whole front; some fled to Bohemia, while most fled west over the Elbe river.
The Saxons left 94 or 96 men dead on the battlefield, with three banners and 36 men captured. Many more were killed during the pursuit which extended for several miles; according to a list of casualties from Dresden, the Saxons had lost one captain, five lieutenants and second lieutenants, and 223 dragoons, with 80 men wounded. Their commander, Jordan, died of his wounds the following day. The Swedes had two men killed and seven wounded, among them the captain of the Life Dragoons who was mortally wounded. The Swedes gained several wagons of supplies and armaments which were meant for Dresden, as well as various fine horses. Schulenburg, having retreated west of the Elbe river, pulled his forces into the cities.
Capture of Leipzig
On 8 September, Charles XII marched past Görlitz to Markersdorf, towards Dresden. He went through Reichenbach to Kubschütz the following day. On 11 September, he bypassed Bautzen to Bischofswerda, where Augustus' Privy councillor Imhoff and Privy referendary Pfingsten arrived from Dresden to negotiate. Charles XII left negotiations to his ministers, Carl Piper and Olof Hermelin, and marched past Stolpen to Radeberg on 12 September. The next day, he sent Johan August Meijerfeldt southeast of Dresden, to Sonnenstein Castle at Pirna, while he bypassed Dresden to the north, now heading for Leipzig with its 1,600-man garrison. He arrived at Weinböhla on 14 September and crossed the Elbe river at Meissen the following day. The garrisons in Leipzig and Wittenberg evacuated, as the Saxon ministry commended Schulenburg to retreat with the army. On 17 September, Charles XII marched through Lommatzsch, Mügeln, over the Mulde river, to Grimma, where he received reports that Schulenburg's army was nearby. It consisted of 2,800 infantry, including 1,200 Russians, and 1,800 cavalry.