Swedish count and field marshal 1603-1651
Torstensson is mostly known for his reorganization of the Swedish artillery and the role that played in the Thirty Years' War. Torstensson converted the slow and cumbersome artillery troops that could only be used strategically, into a fast and mobile force that could be deployed almost as fast as the infantry and the cavalry. This worked particularly well with the new, offensive strategy used by the Swedish forces and proved a great success at the battle of Breitenfeld.
After Breitenfeld and Lech, Torstensson was captured by catholic troops and was held a prisoner until 1634. This captivity broke his health and he never recovered fully. In spite of that he succeded Johan Banér as commander in chief for the Swedish forces in Germany in 1641.
His plan for ending the war was to force the Hapsburg emperor to accept peace by moving the war into the emperor´s hereditary lands. He was partly successful in this and threatened Vienna twice before leaving his command to Carl Gustaf Wrangel, due to rapidly deteriorating health.