Friedrich von Arensdorff

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Friedrich von Arenstorff (Danish: Frederik von Arenstorff; 1626-1689) was an officer in Swedish and Danish military service.

Von Arenstorff started his career in the Swedish Army in Poland in 1645 and took part in the siege of Copenhagen in 1660.

In 1661 he went into Danish pay. After his brother Carl von Arenstorff had been wounded, and the king had fled, he commanded the Royal Danish Army at the Battle of Lund 1676. It is believed that his formalism cost the Danes the victory.

In 1678 he commanded the Danish army in the Skåneland. For his incompetence he was sentenced to death but reprieved by the King.

It is also believed that his cruelty towards the civilians in Scania made many of them change sides and prefer to be under Swedish rule.

In 1688 he was made Supreme Commander of the whole Danish Army.