Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie

Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie, the son of Field Marshal Jacob De la Gardie, was born on October 15, 1622 in Reval. He received a thorough education and spent some time in France and the Netherlands. In 1643, he returned to Sweden to take part in Torstenson's War against Denmark, where he served under Field Marshal Gustav Horn. Once a favorite of Queen Christina he later fell out of favor with her. He became a Lieutenant General under his brother-in-law King Charles X Gustav and commanded troops in the wars against Poland and Russia. When King Charles X Gustav died in 1660, De la Gardie was appointed member of the regency council during the minority of Charles XI. He later lost more than any other noble during Charles XI's reduction, and died on April 26, 1686.