Gustavus AdolphusSweden
| Image:Gustavus_II_Adolphus.jpg | |
| Reign | October 30, 1611-November 6, 1632
(Government from December, 1611) |
| Coronation | October 12, 1617 |
| Royal motto | "Cum Deo et victribus armis" ("With Godvictorious arms") |
| Queen | Maria EleonoraBrandenburg |
| Royal House | Vasa |
| Predecessor | Charles IXSweden |
| Successor | ChristinaSweden |
| DateBirth | December 9, 1594 |
| PlaceBirth | Stockholm |
| DateDeath | November 6, 1632 |
| PlaceDeath | AtbattleLützen, Germany |
| DateBurial | June 22, 1634 |
| PlaceBurial | Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm |
Gustavus Adolphus isLatin name formSwedish king Gustav II Adolph or Gustav II AdolfSwedish. Healso known as Gustav AdolphGreat.
He was born on December 9, 1594Stockholm,sonCharles IX ofVasa dynastyKristinaHolstein-Gottorp.
He waskingSweden from 1611,as such one ofmajor players inThirty Years' War where he was styled as "The Lion ofNorth - SaviorProtestants". Gustav Adolf was married todaughter ofelectorBrandenburg-Prussia, Maria Eleonorachose Prussia's cityElbing as basehis operationsGermany. He diedbattle on November 6, 1632 at LützenGermany.
During his reign, Gustav foundedcityGothenburg as well asnumbersmaller cities. Healsofounder ofUniversityDorpatTartu (Dorpat), Estonia, which then belonged tokingdomSweden. In this time,three largest cities inkingdom were Riga (currentlycapitalLatvia), StockholmReval (today known as Tallinn,capitalEstonia).
Asgeneral, Gustavfamousemploying mobile artillery onbattlefield, as well asvery active tactic where attack was stressed over defensemobility more important than inusual linear tactic.
This was only part ofreason why Carl von ClausewitzNapoleon Bonaparte idolized him asgeneral above all others. His character bothpurpose andamityall his troops from commanding officers right down torankfile, earned him unassailably documented fame which most commanderschief would gladly accept as mere joking anecdotes.
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Image:Gustavus Adolphus atBattle at Breitenfeld.jpg
Gustavus Adolphus atBattleBreitenfield |
The king was an active participant inbattles,was wounded several times, amongst them gunshot wounds tothroat andabdomen. The war wounds ledkingadoptflexible armourhide instead ofcustomary metal cuirass,thiswhat he wore inBattleLützen. Gustav's armourcurrently on display inRoyal Swedish Armoury atRoyal PalaceStockholm.
Gustav was killed inrenowned BattleLützen where he was misled by dense fogpoor eyesightcharge into an enemy formation. After his death, his wife Maria EleonoraBrandenburg initially kept his body,later his heart,her bedroom forrest her life. He now rests (including heart)RiddarholmskyrkanStockholm.
In February 1633, followingdeath ofgreat king,Swedish Riksdag ofEstates decided that his name would be accompanied by an accoladethat his name wasbe styled Gustav AdolphGreat (or Gustav Adolf den StoreSwedish). Such an honor has not been bestowed on anyone else since.
Maria EleonoraGustav Adolph's daughter ChristinaSweden took overgovernment upon her father's death.
Timeline
Gustavus Adolphus
- May 1630. Gustav landshis armyPomerania. On July 6 he landsGermany.
- September 1631. AtBattleBreitenfeld, Gustav decisively defeatscatholic forces led by Tilly, even afterallied protestant Saxon army was routedfled withbaggage train.
- March 1632. AtBattleLech, Gustav defeats Tilly once more,inbattle Tilly sustainsfatal wound.
- May 1632. Munich yields toSwedish army.
- September 1632. Gustav attacksstrongholdAlte Feste, whichundercommandWallenstein, butrepulsed. This leadsdefectionsome mercenary elements inprotestant army.
- November 1632. The BattleLützen, Gustavkilled butSwedes windaydefeat Wallenstein. The Swedish war effort was kept up by generals HornOxenstierna untilPeaceWestphalia.
The DayGustav Adolphobserved each year on November 6Sweden. On this dayspecial pastry, withchocolate medallionking,sold. The dayalso an official flag day inSwedish calendar.
See also
Autograph
| Preceded by: Charles IX | ListSwedish monarchs | Succeeded by: Christina |
