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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Gustavus Adolphus Biography Gustavus II., Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden; a grandson of Gustavus Vasa; born in Stockholm Dec 9, 1594, and received a most careful education. He was trained to war under experienced generals, and at the age of 16 he took his place in the State council. Charles IX., the father of Gustavus, had been declared king to the exclusion of his nephew Sigismund, who, on accepting the crown of Poland during his father's lifetime, had abjured the Protestant religion. On the death of Charles, Gustavus succeeded him, with the consent of the States, as king-elect. Sweden was at this time at war with Denmark, and Gustavus, then in his 17th year, was in command of the army. He chose for his chancellor and first councillor Axel Oxenstierna, a man 10 years his senior, but already eminent for his ability, and who eventually proved himself to be one of the greatest of European statesmen. The war with Denmark was concluded through the mediation of England in 1613. Gustavus next made considerable conquests in Russia. His attention was now diverted from Northern wars by the affairs of Germany. The oppression of the Protestants by Ferdinand II. excited his sympathy. He was alarmed by the progress of Wallenstein, which threatened to extend the empire to the Baltic, and by leaguing himself with the Protestants of Germany he might hope for easier and more extensive conquests than by struggling single-handed against the Northern powers. He named his daughter Christina heiress to the throne, embarked for Germany on May 30, 1630, and landed on June 24 with an army of 13,000 men in the island of Usedom on the coast of Pomerania. After repeatedly defeating the imperial generals, and conquering a great part of Germany, he was killed in the battle of Lutzen, Nov. 16, 1632. Gustavus differed from some other great commanders in preferring a small well-ordered army to a large one. He used to say that all over 40,000 men were an incumbrance. His character made him beloved by his soldiers, and he was served with a devotion which enabled him to effect great things with small means. The discipline which he imparted to the Swedish army and the prestige of success derived from his victories, lasted long after his death. His body was taken to Sweden. People’s Cyclopedia, Vol. II (New York: Syndicate Publishing, 1914) |