Swedish Service In the first half of the 17th century, many Scots served with the
Swedish army, and in 1609 Ruthven became one of the earliest recruits. His career began in the
Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611), when he campaigned in
Livonia under
Charles IX of Sweden. The latter died in 1611, and was replaced by his son,
Gustavus Adolphus, who continued his expansionist policies. During the
Ingrian War with
Russia, Ruthven took part in the fighting around
Novograd, and
Pskov. In 1615, he returned to Scotland to enlist more recruits, and was appointed
captain in
Cockburn's regiment. He was
colonel of the
Småland Regiment when a new
war with Poland began in 1621, his junior officers including
Alexander Leslie and
James King. His unit participated in the
capture of Riga the same year. A victory that greatly enhanced Gustavus Adolphus's reputation within
Protestant Europe, it also provided a vital bridgehead on the
Baltic Sea, which Sweden retained until
1710. In addition to his military duties, Ruthven's capacity for alcohol reportedly made him a useful negotiator, allegedly being known as "Pater Rotwein" by his colleagues. When war with
Poland broke out again in
1626, Ruthven took part in the defence of
Kalmar, as well as the battles of
Gniew and
Dirschau. He was appointed military commandant of
Malbork, and in September 1627 was one of four Scots colonels knighted by Gustavus Adolphus, the others being Alexander Leslie, David Drummond and
John Hepburn.
Sweden entered the Thirty Years' War in 1628, when an expeditionary force led by Leslie was sent to defend
Stralsund from an
Imperial army. Ruthven became governor of
Memel shortly before Gustavus Adolphus invaded the
Holy Roman Empire in 1630. His regiment took part in the April 1631 capture of
Landsberg, and fought at
Breitenfeld in September. When the Swedes pushed into
Bavaria the following year, Ruthven was appointed Governor of
Ulm, and given lands near
Kirchberg in
Franconia. However, he was now 60, an age Gustavus Adolphus allegedly considered too old for a field command, and Ruthven asked to be to released from Swedish service, unsuccessfully asking the
Duke of Hamilton to intervene on his behalf. {{Location map many|Baltic Sea|caption = Patrick Ruthven - Baltic Campaigns 1609 to 1628; key locations in text|border = black|width =250|float = left|relief = yes In November 1632, Gustavus Adolphus was killed in a hard-fought victory at
Lützen, while defeat at
Nördlingen in September 1634 forced the Swedes to retreat from Southern Germany, and temporarily threatened their entire position within the Empire. Ruthven joined the only remaining Swedish field army, commanded by
Johan Banér, and spent the 1634 and 1635 campaigning along the
Rhine. In October 1635, he routed a Saxon force at
Dömitz, but later fell out with Banér. He was finally allowed to return home by
Queen Christina in June 1637.
Wars of the Three Kingdoms As the struggle over religious practice and royal authority intensified between
Charles I and his
Scottish opponents, both sides began preparing for a possible
civil war. In December 1637, Charles made Ruthven Muster Master General for Scotland, and in 1639 appointed him Governor of
Edinburgh Castle. The outbreak of the
Bishops' Wars in March prevented him taking up this position, while he turned down command of the Scottish Royalists, as he was made subordinate to his less experienced social superiors. The First Bishops' War ended in June with the
Treaty of Berwick, but was seen as only a temporary pause in hostilities. Ruthven was finally able to enter Edinburgh Castle in November 1639, the garrison containing a number of experienced Scots officers who had served in Germany, including his son Alexander. When the Second Bishops' War began in April 1640, they held out until September, when forced to surrender by starvation. One of the few bright spots in a disastrous war for Charles I, the right to use the Ruthven name was restored to the Ballindean branch of the family in May 1641, while Ruthven was made "Earl of Forth" in March 1642. When the
First English Civil War broke out in August 1642, Ruthven was appointed Marshal General of the
Royalist forces. On the eve of the
Battle of Edgehill in October, he had a furious row over how to arrange the army with his immediate superior, the
Earl of Lindsey. Lindsey resigned, and later died of wounds received fighting with his regiment, while Ruthven was appointed Lord General in his place. In the subsequent
Battle of Brentford, a brigade led by Ruthven stormed the town, but the Royalists failed to take
London after being repulsed at
Turnham Green, and withdrew to
Oxford. , 1642 As Lord General, Ruthven acted as Charles'
Chief of Staff, and played an active role, being wounded at the
Siege of Gloucester and
First Battle of Newbury in 1643. He informally commanded the Royalist army at
Cheriton in March 1644, a defeat that ended hopes of retaking South-East England from
Parliament. Although largely caused by the indiscipline of his subordinates, this impacted his reputation at court, especially given the increasing prominence of younger, more aggressive leaders like Charles' nephew,
Prince Rupert of the Rhine. Ruthven was also showing signs of age, Royalist statesman
Clarendon later noting that while "a man of unquestionable courage and integrity", by 1644 he "was much decayed in his parts, and with long...immoderate drinking, dozed in his understanding...". At 72, Ruthven himself recognised he was too old for active service, and in May 1644 he was created
Earl of Brentford in the
Peerage of England. However, in early 1644, Charles ordered Prince Rupert to relieve
York, an expedition that ended in defeat at
Marston Moor on 2 July. In his absence, Ruthven played a key role in the Royalist campaign in Western England, beating off one
Parliamentarian army at
Cropredy Bridge in June, then trapping another at
Lostwithiel in September, arguably the most comprehensive Royalist victory of the war. Returning to Oxford, he was wounded at
Second Newbury on 27 October, and on 6 November resigned his position in favour of Prince Rupert.
Exile and death The
Prince of Wales, later Charles II, was given command of Western England in March 1645, and Ruthven appointed his
Lord Chamberlain. By early 1646, the Royalists were on the verge of defeat, and when the prince went into exile, Ruthven accompanied him. Following the
Execution of Charles I in January 1649, he and his old comrade James King used their contacts in Sweden to secure arms and recruits for Royalist uprisings in Scotland and
Ireland. This included a landing in the
Orkney Islands by
Montrose, which was abandoned after Charles II agreed the
Treaty of Breda with the Covenanter government. Despite being barred from returning home by
Parliament, Ruthven accompanied Charles II to Scotland in summer 1650. Some sources suggest he died in
Dundee on 2 February 1651, and was buried in the parish church of
Monifieth. If so, there is no trace of the original monument, since it was completely rebuilt in 1812, although a plaque commemorating Ruthven was later installed. However, Swedish records suggest he had returned to Stockholm by January 1651, and was traveling to
Copenhagen when he died at
Buxtehude, just outside
Hamburg, and taken to a nearby monastery for burial. While his body may have been transported to Scotland at a later date, this seems unlikely, and it has been suggested he was confused with one of his many relatives. Ruthven died deeply in debt, involving his wife and daughters in lengthy legal disputes. Since he had no surviving direct male heirs, his titles became extinct. ==Footnotes==