A Baltic German, he held the ranks of a Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish forces in Germany (1646–1648), and Lord High Admiral of Sweden (from 1657).

By 1673, Wrangel's title was "Count of Sölvesborg, Freiherr of Lindeberg and Ludenhof, Lord of Skokloster, Bremervörde, Wrangelsburg, Spyker, Rappin, Ekebyhov, Gripenberg and Rostorp".

By paternal descent, he was a member of the Wrangel family of Baltic German origin, branches of which settled in Sweden, Russia and Germany.

Before Christina's abdication, Wrangel was already a close friend and trusted advisor of her successor, King Charles X Gustav of Sweden.

When Charles X Gustav died at the end of the war, Wrangel participated in organising the obsequies and composed the melody to a lament.

[2] In 1664, he was appointed Lord High Constable of the Realm, and as such, he was a member of the Privy Council during the minority of King Charles XI of Sweden.

[3] He was treated at several health resorts, including Spa in August 1651, Langenschwalbach in July 1662 and Pyrmont in the summer of 1668 but without ever completely recovering.

[2] In 1674, he broke down "like dead" from two strikes of hypervolemia, and his chronic diseases made it nearly impossible for him to fulfill the tasks of commanding the Swedish forces in the Scanian War.

[3] Shortly afterwards, on 25 June (OS) or 5 July (NS) 1676, Wrangel died in his Spyker Castle on Rügen, Swedish Pomerania (also spelled Spycker, now part of Glowe Municipality).

[11] In Swedish Pomerania, Wrangel advanced to become the greatest landowner[12] and held the domains of Spyker (Rügen) with Baldereck,[13] Cape Arkona,[5] Klein Jasmund (now part of Dubnitz, Sassnitz), Koosdorf, Polkvitz, Ruschvitz,[13] Streu[5] and Wostevitz,[13] the former property of the Roskilde bishop, centred on Ralswiek (Rügen),[14] Wrangelsburg with Krebsow, Spandowerhagen and Zarnitz, Groß Ernsthof,[13] Pritzier with Buddenhagen, Giesekenhagen, Hohendorf, Hohensee, Katzow, Netzeband[15] and Zarnow, Nonnendorf with Latzow, Lubmin and Vierow,[16] Mölschow (Usedom) with Bannemin, Mahlzow, Sauzin, Zecherin and Ziemitz,[14] Brüssow[16] and Krummin (Usedom),[17] and also the islands Greifswalder Oie and Ruden.