The Thirty Years’ War
Spanning from 1618 to 1648, the Thirty Years’ War was a devastating conflict that surpassed even the Black Death and World War II in terms of the proportion of population lost. Initially ignited as a religious struggle between Catholics and Protestants within the Holy Roman Empire, the war soon engulfed much of central Europe, with Germany serving as the primary battleground. The consequences of the war were dire, with widespread famine, disease outbreaks, and the brutal actions of foreign mercenaries and occupying armies inflicting immense suffering upon civilian populations.
The Battle of Lützen
A significant event within the war was the Battle of Lützen, which took place on November 16, 1632. Leading the Protestant forces, Swedish King Gustav II Adolf faced off against General Albrecht von Wallenstein, commander of the Catholic Holy Roman Empire’s imperial troops. The battle concluded with a victory for the Swedish army, but it came at the cost of King Gustav II Adolf’s life.
Discovery of the Mass Grave
In 2006, a team of archaeologists employed advanced metal-detector survey techniques to locate the precise site of the Battle of Lützen. This survey yielded a wealth of artifacts, including projectiles, providing vital evidence of the battle’s occurrence. Subsequently, in 2011, an excavation in the form of a trench uncovered a significant discovery—a mass grave. Rather than excavating the individual skeletons separately, the scientists opted to preserve the integrity of the burial site by carefully raising the remains as a single, massive block of soil weighing 55 tons.
Under the guidance of Nicole Nicklisch from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, a team of skilled bioarchaeologists meticulously analyzed the 47 skeletons contained within this enormous block. Their primary objective was to examine the fatal injuries sustained by the soldiers during the intense battle. Through this comprehensive analysis, they aimed to shed light on the nature of the combat and the individual experiences of those who fought and perished in the Battle of Lützen.
Injuries and Causes of Death
The findings of the skeleton analysis, published in the journal PLOS ONE, provided intriguing insights into the injuries and causes of death among the soldiers. Surprisingly, many of the soldiers had preexisting wounds before the final battle at Lützen. Some displayed head injuries, including one individual who had endured four head wounds from previous conflicts. Additionally, evidence of healed or healing bone fractures in limbs and ribs was observed. By examining the unhealed wounds, researchers were able to ascertain the causes of death on the battlefield.
Contrary to expectations, bladed weapons played a relatively minor role in the soldiers’ fatalities. More than half of the soldiers had sustained gunshot wounds, indicating the prevalence of firearms during the conflict. Notably, twenty-one soldiers had gunshot wounds to the head, with eleven of them still bearing bullets lodged in their skulls.
The large number of gunshot wounds distinguishes this mass grave from others dating back to the Thirty Years’ War. Historical records suggest that the Blue Brigade, an elite unit comprised mostly of hired German soldiers within the Swedish army, suffered a devastating defeat in the vicinity of the discovered grave. According to accounts, they were caught off guard by a surprise attack from a cavalry unit belonging to the Catholic imperial army. The presence of bullets found within the skeletons suggests that the soldiers were assaulted with pistols, muskets, and carbines—weapons commonly used by cavalrymen for short-range combat. Intriguingly, some skeletons even contained unfired lead bullets in their mouths, indicating that soldiers kept bullets there for rapid reloading during the heat of battle.
NM 1028
Identity and Burial
The researchers have put forth a hypothesis suggesting that the majority of soldiers interred in the mass grave were fighters from the Swedish army, although it is possible that soldiers from the imperial Catholic army were also included. The absence of clothing or personal effects discovered alongside the remains indicates that the soldiers were stripped of their uniforms and belongings prior to burial. The burial practices exhibited some variation, with certain bodies appearing to have been placed with care, while others were seemingly tossed into the pit, likely by the townspeople assigned the task of cleaning up after the battle. The researchers speculate that the local population of Lützen held an unfavorable view of the fallen soldiers, regardless of their military allegiance, as the war had brought devastation and hardship to the rural community.
Conclusion
The discovery of a mass grave from the Battle of Lützen provides valuable insights into the lives and deaths of soldiers during the Thirty Years’ War. The analysis of the skeletons revealed the severe injuries soldiers sustained before the final battle, with gunshot wounds being the primary cause of death. The presence of unfired bullets in the skeletons and historical accounts suggest a surprise cavalry attack on the Swedish army. The burial of the soldiers in the mass grave reflects the chaos and devastation brought about by the war. This archaeological find offers a somber reminder of the grim realities faced by those who fought in one of Europe’s bloodiest conflicts.
