söndag 3 februari 2013

IAW CXCVI - Statues

This week Sue is the host and she has chosen Statues as the theme.


Count Magnus Gustafsson Stenbock (August 12, 1664 - February 23, 1717) was a Swedish military officer at the time of the Great Northern War.
Returning to Sweden he entered the Army, and, in 1688, became major. He served with the Swedes in the Low Countries and on the Rhine, distinguishing himself for skill and courage at Fleurus. During the Nine Years' War he was employed not only in the field but also as a confidential agent in diplomatic missions. He married Eva Magdalena Oxenstierna on 26 December 1690 in Stockholm. She was the daughter of Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna and Magdalena Eriksdotter Stenbock.
Soon afterwards, as colonel of the Dalecarlian regiment, he led it in the astonishing victory of Narva. He distinguished himself still more at Dünamünde, Klissow and Cracow. In 1703 he fought the successful battle at Pułtusk, and three years later, having reached the rank of general of infantry, was made Governor-General of Scania. He led the Swedish troops to victory in the Battle of Helsingborg (1710), the last battle between Denmark and Sweden in Scania. He was a great favorite with Charles XII in the earlier campaigns, but later the two drifted somewhat apart. It is recorded that the king, before whom General Lagercrona accused Stenbock of drunkenness, replied that Stenbock drunk was more capable of giving orders than Lagercrona sober.
His activities were not confined to war and diplomacy; the University of Lund was under his care as Chancellor for some years, and he had no mean skill as a painter and a poet. He became Privy Councillor in 1710, and Charles gave him his field marshal's baton in 1712. In the same year he invaded Mecklenburg (with but 9000 men) in order to cover besieged Stralsund in Swedish Pomerania. He won the Battle of Gadebusch, but numbers prevailed against him in the end. Cut off in Tönning he was forced to surrender after a gallant resistance, and passed into captivity. During his captivity he produced extraordinary fine ivory miniatures, which often included referrals to the number 51 - a reference to Psalm 51 "Have mercy on me, O God" [1] He died in Copenhagen, after five years of harsh treatment.

20 kommentarer:

  1. Thanks for the explanation. Realise how little I know about Scandinavian history. Interesting statue.

    SvaraRadera
  2. A great shot, and many thanks for the detailed history of Stenbock, it was most interesting!! Here is MY I&W ENTRY

    SvaraRadera
  3. Thanks Mitch. you're welcome,

    SvaraRadera
  4. Wow.....another fantastic entry for Sue's theme!

    The history along with the statue brings it all to life!

    SvaraRadera
  5. Anders love this statue and love the history you give with it. Very interesting.
    Sweden has many beautiful statues.

    SvaraRadera
  6. Very interesting Anders and the photo is awesome.

    SvaraRadera
  7. Thanks Linda, Sue and Shayna.

    SvaraRadera
  8. Nice shot of an imposing statue... thanks for sharing a bit of its history...

    SvaraRadera
  9. A very dramatic statue and interesting history!

    SvaraRadera
  10. Thanks Danette - indeed it is.

    SvaraRadera
  11. Nice shot for the statues. Thanks for informing the history.

    My: I & W Statue

    SvaraRadera
  12. Little known piece of history for most of us I expect. Nice choice though, Anders.
    http://nomadtravellingman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/statues.html

    SvaraRadera
  13. Very interesting Anders thanks for posting;)Images and Words

    SvaraRadera
  14. Images and History! Very nice entry :)

    SvaraRadera
  15. Very informative entry Anders. Thanks for your visit .

    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/images-and-words-statues?xg_source=activity

    SvaraRadera