Battle of Pfaffenhoffen

[thestoats]

Hey guys, so I've been looking for a manageable historical scenario for my Thirty Years War figures, and I think I may have struck figurative gold! I'm looking into the Battle of Pfaffenhoffem on 1 August 1633 and, although checking many of my boxes at first glance, I am having trouble finding substantial information aside from that of a singular source (https://www.tercios.fr/2020/05/12/la-bataille-de-pfaffenhoffen-1er-aout-1633/?print=print), which I find to be of dubious quality considering it's directed at wargamers. I thought I'd head here to see if anyone knows anything more about the specifics of battle. I also found an engraving of the battle on the French Wikipedia page (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Pfaffenhoffen_bataille_1633.jpg), but am unsure as to when it was created and its credibility. I read on a different thread that the Lorrainer military left very sparse records during the Thirty Years' War but if anyone can redirect me to any sources on them that would also be appreciated. Anything helps, thanks in advance guys!

[Atheling]

Hey guys, so I've been looking for a manageable historical scenario for my Thirty Years War figures, and I think I may have struck figurative gold! I'm looking into the Battle of Pfaffenhoffem on 1 August 1633 and, although checking many of my boxes at first glance, I am having trouble finding substantial information aside from that of a singular source (https://www.tercios.fr/2020/05/12/la-bataille-de-pfaffenhoffen-1er-aout-1633/?print=print), which I find to be of dubious quality considering it's directed at wargamers. I thought I'd head here to see if anyone knows anything more about the specifics of battle. I also found an engraving of the battle on the French Wikipedia page (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Pfaffenhoffen_bataille_1633.jpg), but am unsure as to when it was created and its credibility. I read on a different thread that the Lorrainer military left very sparse records during the Thirty Years' War but if anyone can redirect me to any sources on them that would also be appreciated. Anything helps, thanks in advance guys!

Are thee no books on the subject?

[thestoats]

Are thee no books on the subject?

None I can find specifically on the battle itself, although this is no surprise as the Thirty Years' War is poorly documented by secondary sources, especially the period outside of Gustavus's campaigns. I was originally drawn to the battle after its brief mention in Peter H. Wilson's Europe's Tragedy, but I haven't been able to find any references online to other texts that discuss the battle in any more detail. It looks as though I'll have to delve into primary sources a bit to determine the truthfulness of that online source I found. On a better note, someone notified me that the engraving from Wikipedia is from the 1639 edition of Theatrum Europaeum, so pretty close to being contemporary

[Hwiccee]

Any kind of detailed information on most TYW battles is very difficult to find and for many it is impossible. There are a series of difficult to find books by Guthrie which has some but is also widely criticised. I don't have a copy to hand to check but I don't remember there being much on this battle.

The above is the bad news but the good news is I suspect you have what will probably be the best source there is. I do not know if the author is also a gamer but he is the author of the best book on the French in the TYW and an expert (academic?) on the period. My guess is that French wargamers have taken the material from the authors work and put it online for use by gamers & the author is NOT a gamer. Either way I would say this is credible material, also very probably the best you will find and indeed better than you can get for many TYW battles.

[Hwiccee]

I have just checked - the author is an academic. Here is his book on the French - https://www.amazon.com/French-Armies-Thirty-Years-Soldiers/dp/2917747013

[Atheling]

I have just checked - the author is an academic. Here is his book on the French - https://www.amazon.com/French-Armies-Thirty-Years-Soldiers/dp/2917747013

So, a good starting point?

[Hwiccee]

So, a good starting point?

 

As mentioned in my first post it is likely to be all you will find. The part about being an academic was more that the original poster was worried it is some gamer thing. I have no real idea how much the author of the French piece knows about this. But his book is the best serious look at the French tyw army in English. So I would certainly say yes at least a good place to start

[bigredbat]

I know Stephane- we've corresponded. He wrote a good book on Rocroi so I think you'd be on pretty safe ground with material he has written.

[thestoats]

Thanks for the info guys, It’s cool to see Thion seem to collaborate with war gamers on his period of expertise! I’ll try to see if I can find more about those Lorrainer regiments and some of the Allied ones I hadn’t heard of. I would write to him for that info but I wouldn’t want to bother him while he’s trying to get a book out!

[ichwillauch]

There is a book about this battle :""SCHNEIDER, Camille: Pfaffenhofens Schicksal im Dreißigjährigen Kriege. Die Schlacht von
Pfaffenhofen und die Zerstörung der Stadt im Jahre 1633 , Straßburg 1934."
Beside that the webside https://www.30jaehrigerkrieg.de/roupovec-freiherr-v-roupov-roupovsky-z-roupova-ruppa-n/ quotes some letters written about the battle.

[thestoats]

Thanks for the great find ichwillauch, I'll def be checking these out!

[traveller]

 There was a boardgame in the works for this battle a few years ago but it seems it was never released. Here is a link to the map and the units if that is of interest:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1761887684099357&type=3

[Gentilhomme]

Bonjour à tous

Thestoats, I am Lorraine by birth and I have always been an admirer of the history of the Duchy of Lorraine, which belonged to the Holy Germanic Empire and which was an almost independent state.

If you are interested in the Lorraine armies of the 30 Years' War and more particularly the battle of Pfaffenhoffen, I advise you to find the book by Jean-Charles Fulaine, - Duke Charles IV of Lorraine and his army - , published by the editions la Serpenoise, 1997.

Eight pages are devoted to the Battle of Pfaffenhoffen. Unfortunately, this book, which is a university thesis for a doctorate in history, is becoming unobtainable outside of a few second-hand books.

This work traces the life and army of the Duke of Lorraine from the start of the 30 Years' War until the Duke's death in 1675 during the Dutch War.
His whole life was devoted to his fight against King Louis XIII and Richelieu. He was one of the best generals of the imperial armies.

In wargaming, my main army for TYW, it is Lorraine with France and its allies as its adversary.

As for the book, I don't think it has been translated into English.
I'll give you a link that might interest you:

https://www.amazon.fr/duc-Charles-IV-son-arm%C3%A9e/dp/2876923246

I'm sorry, my English is very bad, so I'm using an online translator.

I remain at your disposal.

Gentilhomme
​

[thestoats]

Thanks very much Gentilhomme, you definitely live up to your username!
I will definitely be trying to get my hands (figuratively or literally) on that book along with the one recommended by ichwillauch. I hope you've posted your wargaming armies for the Thirty Years War as well, I bet they look great!

P.S. I would attempt to respond in French with what knowledge on the language I had picked up from high school, but I am unsure about whether other languages besides English are allowed on the forum for moderation purposes.