Background
He was born in Stockholm, in 1665, the son of Gustaf Otto Stenbock and Christina Catharine de la Gardie.
He was born in Stockholm, in 1665, the son of Gustaf Otto Stenbock and Christina Catharine de la Gardie.
He was educated at Uppsala and at Paris, chose the military profession.
He spent some years in the service of the United Provinces. 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.
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 Kraków. In 1703 he fought the successful battle of Pultusk, and three years later, having reached the rank of general of infantry, was made governorgeneral of the province of Scania, which he delivered from the Danish invaders by the decisive victory of Helsingborg.
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 for some years, and he had no mean skill as a painter and a poet. He became 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 Stralsund. He won the brilliant action of Gadebusch, but numbers prevailed against him in the end. Cut off in Tinning he was forced to surrender after a gallant resistance, and passed into captivity. Five years of harsh treatment in Copenhagen brought his life to a close in 1717.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)
He married Eva Magdalena Oxenstierna on 26 December 1690 in Stockholm.
