Dietrich von Falkenberg
| Dietrich von Falkenberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1580 Herstelle, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 20 May 1631 Magdeburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Allegiance |
 Sweden
|
| Years of service | 1630 – 1631 |
| Rank | Commandant |
| Battles/wars | |
Dietrich von Falkenberg (1580 – 20 May 1631) was a German statesman and officer, who commanded the defence of Magdeburg during the course of the Thirty Years' War.
Falkenberg was born in Herstelle in 1580, to the Drost of the Imperial Abbey of Corvey Christoph von Falkenberg and his wife Appollonia. He was sent to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel where he served as a councillor for its ruler Moritz. In 1615, he was dispatched to the Swedish court. There he managed to gain the trust of the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus becoming his Hovmarskalk and thus entering Swedish service.
In 1630, Sweden intervened into the Thirty Years' War on the side of the Protestants. On 27 July, Magdeburg's former administrator Christian Wilhelm von Brandenburg slipped into the city, seizing back power. Christian Wilhelm immediately declared his allegiance for Sweden. Falkenberg was appointed to the rank of Commandant and sent to Magdeburg, which he managed to enter in October by disguising himself as a sailor. He then presented the city's council with a letter reassuring them of Sweden's support in their struggle against the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic League. Soon afterwards, Imperial general Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim chased Magdeburg's militia into the city, imposing a siege. In the meantime, Falkenberg became the head of Magdeburg's garrison, organized a recruitment drive and strengthened the fortifications. The majority of Magdeburg's population appeared reluctant as they have grown tired of the war, the exception being the local radical Protestant clergy.
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