Lennart Torstensson

Lennart Torstenson
Lennart Torstenson painted 1648 by unknown artist.
Born	17 August 1603 Forstena, Västergötland, Sweden
Died	7 April 1651 (aged 47) , Sweden
Allegiance	Sweden
Service/branch	Swedish Army
Years of service	1624–1645
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	Polish-Swedish War Thirty Years' War Torstensson War
Other work	Privy Councillor, Governor-General

Lennart Torstenson, Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad (17 August 1603 – 7 April 1651), was a Swedish Field Marshal and military engineer.

He was born at Forstena in Västergötland. His parents were Märta Nilsdotter Posse and Torsten Lennartson, Lord of Forstena, who was supporter of king Sigismund and, for a while, the commandant of Älvsborg Fortress. Young Lennart's parents fled to exile in the year of his birth because his father had confessed to being loyal to the deposed Sigismund. Lennart was taken care of by relatives - his father returned to Sweden only when Lennart was around twenty. His paternal uncle Anders Lennartsson was Lord High Constable of Sweden and trusted by Duke Charles, but he fell at the Battle of Kirkholm in 1605.

At the age of fifteen he became one of the pages of the young King Gustavus Adolphus and was allowed to observe the Livonian War, such as the conquest of Riga in 1621. At the age of twenty, he made his grand tour, getting to know foreign countries. In January 1626, he was at the battle of Wallhof as an ensign. He also served during the Prussian campaigns of 1628 and 1629.

It is told that at one battle Gustavus Adolphus sent Torstensson with an order to one of the officers. On his way Torstensson noticed that the enemy had changed position and altered the King's orders. Gustavus noticed the new development. When Torstensson returned he told Gustavus what he had done. The King first raised his hand as if to strike Torstensson but changed his mind and said, "Lennart, this could have cost you your life, but maybe you are better suited to be a general than a page at the royal court".