The Swedish Siege of Prague

You're standing on Charles Bridge, and right here in July 1648, citizens fought off a Swedish army that had already captured half the city. The night of July 25, Swedish General Königsmarck launched a surprise attack. His troops scaled the western walls while the city celebrated a royal wedding with fireworks. By dawn, they held the castle, the Lesser Town, everything on the west bank. 13,500 Swedish soldiers faced 2,000 defenders. Problem was, they needed to cross this bridge to reach the Old Town and its riches. Feldmarschall Colloredo organized the defense. His soldiers held the line. Citizens grabbed weapons. University students formed the Academic Legion. Even the Jewish community joined the fight. For 3 months, they stopped every Swedish assault right here on the bridge. Here's what makes it absurd: while diplomats in Westphalia were signing peace treaties to end the Thirty Years War, Swedish troops were busy looting the castle. They loaded 472 paintings onto barges, plus the Codex Gigas and other treasures from Rudolf II's collection. Most of that art is still in Sweden. The war had started in 1618 with the Defenestration. It ended here in 1648, at the same spot. Look up at the Old Town Bridge Tower. There's a Latin inscription from 1650 commemorating the victory: the Swedes could stop here by choice, but they stopped unwillingly.