Charles Emil Lewenhaupt the Elder (28 March 1691 – 4 August 1743) was a Swedish general.

Biography

Lewenhaupt was born to Count Carl Gustaf Löwenhaupt and Countess Amalia Königsmarck. At the age of 16, he entered Dutch service where he was promoted to the rank of captain in 1709. A year later he entered Swedish service. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and participated at the

battle of Gadebusch The Battle of Gadebusch or Wakenstädt (20 December 1712) was Sweden's final great victory in the Great Northern War. It was fought by the Swedes to prevent the loss of the city of Stralsund to Danish and Saxon forces. Prelude During 1712, ...

in 1712. In 1720, Lewenhaupt married Beata Cronhielm. The couple had one son, Charles Emil Lewenhaupt the Younger. In 1722, he was promoted to major general. At the

Riksdag of the Estates Riksdag of the Estates ( sv, Riksens ständer; informally sv, Ståndsriksdagen) was the name used for the Estates of Sweden when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to t ...

of 1741, he was a factor in the decision to wage war against Imperial Russia, in what became the

Russo-Swedish War Wars between Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and ...

of 1741–1743. Following the war, on 20 June 1743, Lewenhaupt was sentenced to death on grounds of poor performance and conduct in the war. The execution was set to 20 July, and later postponed to 30 July. Lewenhaupts' son and a small party managed to free him, but Lewenhaupt was re-arrested when aboard a vessel in the Stockholm archipelago bound for Danzig. On 4 August 1743, Lewenhaupt was decapitated at Norrtull in Stockholm.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewenhaupt, Charles Emil 1691 births 1743 deaths 18th-century executions by Sweden 18th-century Swedish military personnel Executed Swedish people People executed by Sweden by decapitation Military personnel from Stockholm People of the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743) Swedish generals Swedish military personnel of the Great Northern War Swedish people of German descent