BREI'TENFELD, a village and manor of Saxony, about 5 m. n. of Leipsic. It is his torically remarkable for three battles, fought ou a plain in its neighborhood. The first of these, between the Swedes and the Imperialists, which was fought ou the 7th Sept., 1631, was of the highest importance to Europe, as it secured the permanency of Protes tantism and the freedom of Germany. Tilly's pride had reached its highest point after the fall of Magdeburg, which took place on the 10th of May, 1631; and in the early part of Sept. of the same year, he advanced against the Saxons, with an army of about 40,000 men, for the purpose of forcing the elector, John George I. (who would not sub mit to the edict of restitution, and was treating with the Swedish king, Gustavus Adol phus), into an alliance with the emperor. No other way remained than for the elector to join the Swedish king, who had just entered Pomerania. Gustavus Adolphus, joined by the Saxons, advanced towards Leipsic, where Tilly lay, who advanced into the plain of 13reitenfeld. The imperial forces were completely defeated, and their three most dis
tinrruished generals, Tilly, Pappenheim, and FUrstenberg, wounded. The second battle 9 which 13. witnessed again resulted in the triumph of Swedish valor: it took place on the 23d of Oct., 1642, between the Swedes, headed by Torsteuson, one of the pupils of Gus tavus, who had invested Leipsic, and the archduke Leopold, with gen. Piceolomini, who were advancing frouiDresden to its relief. The Swedes gained a complete victory over the imperialists, who fled into Bohemia, leaving behind them 46 cannon, 121 flags, 69 standards, and the whole of their baggage. The third battle of which B. was the scene, was fought on the 16th of Oct., 1813, and was part of the great contest known as the battle of Leipsic.