Swedish invasion of Saxony

Swedish invasion of Saxony
Part of the Great Northern War
Charles XII receives the keys to Leipzig
Date 6–24 September 1706 Location Saxony, Germany Result Swedish victory Treaty of Altranstädt (1706)
Belligerents
Swedish Empire	Electorate of Saxony Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Charles XII of Sweden	Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg
Strength
20,000[1]	16,000[2]

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.