On both sides many
men of high rank were killed. On the Swedish side, besides Gustavus
himself, fell Count Milo, the Count of Brahe, General Uslar,
Ernest Prince of Anhalt, and Colonels Gersdorf and Wildessein. On
the Imperialist side Pappenheim, Schenk, Prince and Abbot of Fulda,
Count Berthold Wallenstein, General Brenner, Issolani, general of
the Croats, and six colonels were killed. Piccolomini received
ten wounds, but none of them were mortal.
Holk was severely wounded, and, indeed, so close and desperate
was the conflict, that it is said there was scarcely a man in the
Imperial army who escaped altogether without a wound.
CHAPTER XVIII WOUNDED
A controversy, which has never been cleared up, has long raged as
to the death of Gustavus of Sweden; but the weight of evidence is
strongly in favour of those who affirm that he received his fatal
wound, that in the back, at the hand of Franz Albert of Lauenburg. The
circumstantial evidence is, indeed, almost overwhelming. By birth
the duke was the youngest of four sons of Franz II, Duke of Lauenburg.
On his mother's side he was related to the Swedish royal family,
and in his youth lived for some time at the court of Stockholm.
Owing to some impertinent remarks in reference to Gustavus he fell
into disfavour with the queen, and had to leave Sweden. On attaining
manhood he professed the Catholic faith, entered the Imperial army,
obtained the command of a regiment, attached himself with much
devotion to Wallenstein, and gained the confidence of that general.
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