Berndt Otto Stackelberg Sr.

Friherre Berndt Otto von Stackelberg (14 May 1662 – 29 August 1734), also known as Berndt Otto Stackelberg the Elder, was a Swedish field marshal (fältmarskalk) and nobleman. Stackelberg fought in the Great Northern War as a subordinate to Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt and King Charles XII, seeing action in a number of major battles until his capture at the battle of Poltava. After the war, and his subsequent release, he would be given overall command of Swedish forces in Finland.

Biography Berndt Otto Stackelberg was born on 14 May 1662 in the Livonian city of Reval to colonel Wolter von Stackelberg and Helene Lieven. In addition to being a soldier, his father was also governor-general of Ösel and hereditary lord of Hallinap. Stackelberg began his military career in 1685 and later participated in the Nine Years' War on both sides, first in service with the Dutch from 1688 to 1690 and then with the French until 1696. In February 1703, Stackelberg defeated a contingent of Poles under Grzegorz Antoni Oginski in an engagement near Janitzsky.

In 1704, Stackelberg was transferred to the army of Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt and was present at the battle of Jakobstadt and the capture of Biržai Castle. The Following year, he fought at Gemauerthof, commanding the Swedish vanguard, and was promoted to major-general in 1706. Stackelberg was taken prisoner along with many other generals after the battle and was forced to take part in Tsar Peter the Great's victory parade in Moscow. From there he was taken to Siberia where he remained in captivity until the end of the war.

After returning to Sweden, Stackelberg was promoted to general and given command of the . Additionally, he was also made commander-in-chief of the Swedish forces in Finland and was responsible for strengthening the defences in the region. On 11 July 1727, Stackelberg was raised to the rank of field marshal and given the title of Friherre (Baron). He died in Åbo on 29 August 1734. thumb

Family Stackelberg married Margareta Elisabeth Maidel in 1696 and were together until his death. They had 8 children:

Georg Johan (1697–1765); Helena (1698–1748); Hedvig Juliana (1700–1763); Margaretha Elisabeth (1701–1773); Berndt Otto (1703–1787); Wolter Reinhold (1705–1801); Christina (1707–1735); Anna Catharina (1708–1745)