Second Hand Lützen 1632

A detailed, richly illustrated study of the Battle of Lützen (1632)—one of the defining clashes of the Thirty Years’ War and the battle that cost Gustavus Adolphus his life. Written by leading historian Peter H. Wilson, this book places the fighting in its wider political and strategic context, explaining why Lützen mattered, how the battle unfolded on the day, and how contemporaries and later generations shaped its memory.

Drawing on modern scholarship and visual sources, Wilson explores the opposing commanders and armies, the terrain and tactical realities, and the role of propaganda, commemoration, and national myth-making in turning Lützen into a landmark event in European military history. The volume is supported by black-and-white illustrations and a substantial colour plate section, making it an excellent choice for readers interested in Early Modern warfare, Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire, and the wider story of the Thirty Years’ War.