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
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{{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