Atlas of Battles

battle, early modern

Battle of Axtorna

Battle of Axtorna was a battle fought on 20 October 1565 at Axtorna, in what is now Sweden. It was part of the Northern Seven Years' War, which ran from 1563 to 1570. The recorded result: Danish victory. Recorded strength: 11,100–20,000 men against 7,400–9,000 men; 21 artillery pieces.

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Battle of Axtorna
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Fought20 October 1565
WhereAxtorna, Sweden57.040N, 12.643E
OutcomeDanish victory
BelligerentsEarly Vasa SwedenagainstDenmark–Norway
Casualties and losses1,200–1,700and300–2,500
Part ofNorthern Seven Years' War1563 to 1570

Where it sits in the Northern Seven Years' War

Capture of Älvsborg, 1563Battle of Öland, 1563Battle of Mared, 1563Siege of Halmstad, 1563, 1563Siege of Steinvikholm fortress, 1564Action of 30 May 1564, 1564Action of 12 July 1564, 1564Battle of Rügen, 1565Action of 4 June 1565, 1565Action of 7 July 1565, 1565Siege of Varberg, 1565Battle of Axtorna, 1565Action of 26 July 1566, 1566Battle of Brobacka, 1566Siege of Akershus fortress, 1567, 1567Bombardment of Reval 1569, 1569Raid of Karl, Duke of Värmland, in Scania, 1569, 1569Siege of Varberg, 156915631569Battle of Axtorna, 1565
19 placed engagements of the Northern Seven Years' War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date20 October 1565
PlaceAxtorna, Sweden
57.040N, 12.643E
KindBattle, early modern
Strength11,100–20,000 men7,400–9,000 men; 21 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses1,200–1,700300–2,500; 4,000 men from both sides
Commanders
  • Daniel Rantzau
Battle of AxtornaBattle of AxtornaSiege of VarbergSiege of VarbergBattle of MaredBattle of NisåBattle of HalmstadSiege of VarbergBattle of MaredBattle of NisåBattle of HalmstadGöteborgÅrhusJönköpingHelsingborgVäxjöKristianstadFrederikshavnKarlskrona100 km57.040N, 12.643E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1565

Battle of Axtorna is one of 1,470 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 117 in present-day Sweden.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2890945, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Axtorna, revision 1382183745, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.