Breitenfeld

Breitenfeld is a toponym used for several localities in German-speaking regions. The name, meaning “broad field” in German, is most prominently associated with a district on the western outskirts of Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. The district is primarily residential and lies within the city’s northwestern area.

Breitenfeld is historically significant as the site of the Battle of Breitenfeld, fought on 17 September 1631 near the village of Breitenfeld west of Leipzig, during the Thirty Years’ War. In this engagement, the Swedish army under King Gustavus Adolphus defeated the Catholic Imperial forces commanded by Johann Tilly. The victory is often regarded as a turning point in the war, helping to tilt momentum in favor of the Protestant and Scandinavian powers and contributing to Sweden’s temporary dominance in northern Germany.

Outside Leipzig, the name Breitenfeld is used for several smaller localities in Germany and Austria. The Leipzig district remains the best-known contemporary reference, while the toponym continues to be used in historical contexts to denote the battlefield near Leipzig.