The Battle of Ahrensbök was one of the climactic battles of the Ostend War, and its only major land battle. With the destruction of the League's blockade of Lübeck, coalitions of French and Danish forces were forced to retreat toward their respective homelands. Gustavus decided to let the Danes retreat, as he wanted a political solution with Christian IV of Denmark. However, the French had to trek hundreds of miles across Germany with little opportunity to replenish supplies.