▁during ▁the ▁ 3 0 ▁Years ▁War . ▁ ▁Biography ▁Gott fried ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Fland ers . ▁In ▁ 1 6 1 5 ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Army ▁of ▁the ▁Holy ▁Roman ▁Empire ▁in ▁Italy ▁as ▁a ▁volunte er . ▁In ▁ 1 6 1 8 ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁An hol t ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁Bav arian ▁Army ▁and ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁regiment ▁rising ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁colon el . ▁While ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁regiment ▁he ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁Count ▁of ▁T illy ' s ▁ ▁campaign s ▁in ▁Boh emia ▁and ▁the ▁Rh ine , ▁then ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁Sie ge ▁of ▁Mag de burg ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Leipzig . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁Baron ▁of ▁G le en ▁had ▁distinguished ▁himself ▁in ▁ 1 6 3 2 ▁by ▁the ▁defence ▁of ▁Wolf en b ütt el ▁against ▁the ▁Duke ▁of ▁Lü ne burg , ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 6 3 3 ▁he ▁received ▁an ▁independent ▁command ▁in ▁West phal ia . ▁With ▁luck ▁and ▁skill , ▁his ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Catholic ▁League ▁troops ▁scattered ▁the ▁arm ies ▁of ▁the ▁Land gra ve ▁of ▁H esse ▁and ▁the ▁Duke ▁of ▁Lü ne burg , ▁and ▁against ▁the ▁Sw edes ▁under ▁Tor sten ▁St al hand ske . ▁ ▁G le en ▁joined ▁the ▁imperial ▁service ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁general w acht meister ▁( major - general ). ▁He ▁fought ▁in ▁with ▁the ▁Imperial ▁and ▁Bav arian ▁arm ies ▁under ▁ ▁Count ▁of ▁H