His first wife having died, he was in 1643 betrothed to the King's natural daughter with Vibeke Kruse, Elisabeth Sofie Gyldenløve, although she was only ten; they finally married five years later.

[1][2][3] When the war with Sweden began in 1643, Ahlefeldt became first a lieutenant colonel, and soon enough a major general, of cavalry.

After the death of Christian IV, he was persecuted by Corfitz Ulfeldt, who had him dismissed from his posts and sent to Glückstadt as commandant.

As such he commanded the Danish-Norwegian forces during the Battle of Vågen, having refused the bribes offered him by the English.

With his third wife, Anna Hedwig Buchwald, he had five children that reached adult age.