Battle of Drakenburg

Battle of Drakenburg
Part of the Schmalkaldic War
1607 etching of the battle
Date 23 May 1547 Location near Drakenburg Result Protestant victory
Belligerents
Protestant Schmalkaldic troops	Catholic Imperial army, with forces of Hungary[1]
Strength
6,500 infantry, 1,400 cavalry, 24 cannons	6,000 infantry, unknown number of cavalry (including Hungarian troops), 17 cannons
Casualties and losses
200 dead, 400 wounded	2,500 dead, 2,500 captured

The Battle of Drakenburg (German: Schlacht bei Drakenburg) took place on 23 May 1547 to the north of Nienburg, between the Protestant army of the Schmalkaldic League and the imperial troops of Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Calenberg. It resulted in an imperial defeat. Eric was forced to swim over the Weser River to save his own life. As a consequence, the imperialists left northern Germany, contributing to freedom of religion for Lutherans and Catholics in northern Germany.