Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden

Gustav II Adolf (December 9, 1594 – November 6, 1632 O.S.), widely known by the Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus and referred to by Protestant's as the Lion of the North, was King of Sweden from 1611 until his death. He is the only Swedish king to be styled "the Great". He was born in Stockholm, the son of Charles IX of the Vasa dynasty and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.

Military commander

As a general, Gustav is famous for employing mobile artillery on the battlefield, as well as a very active tactic where attack was stressed over defense and mobility more important than in the usual linear tactic.

Related Topics:
General - Artillery - Tactic - Linear tactic

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This was only part of the reason why Carl von Clausewitz and Napoleon Bonaparte idolized him as the general above all others. His character both of purpose and of amity with all his troops from commanding officers right down to the rank and file, earned him unassailably documented fame which most commanders in chief would gladly accept as mere joking anecdotes.

Related Topics:
Carl von Clausewitz - Napoleon Bonaparte

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The king was an active participant in the battles, and was wounded several times, including gunshot wounds to the throat and the abdomen. His war wounds led the king to adopt a flexible armour of hide instead of the customary metal cuirass, and this is what he wore in the Battle of Lützen. Gustav's armour is currently on display in the Royal Swedish Armoury at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Related Topics:
Battle of Lützen - Royal Swedish Armoury - Royal Palace in Stockholm

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Gustav used the name Captain Gars to travel Europe incognito. Gars is derived from the initials of "Gustavus Adolphus Rex Sueciae", Latin for "Gustav Adolf King of Sweden".

Related Topics:
Rex - Latin - King - Sweden

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Gustav was killed in the renowned Battle of Lützen where he was misled by dense fog and poor eyesight to charge into an enemy formation. After his death, his wife Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg initially kept his body, and later his heart, in her castle for over one year. His remains (including his heart) now rest in Riddarholmskyrkan in Stockholm.

Related Topics:
Battle of Lützen - Maria Eleonora - Brandenburg - Riddarholmskyrkan - Stockholm

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In February 1633, following the death of the great king, the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates decided that his name would be accompanied by an accolade and that his name was to be styled Gustav Adolph the Great (or Gustav Adolf den Store in Swedish). Such an honor has not been bestowed on anyone else since.

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The crown of Sweden was inherited in the family of Vasa, and from Charles IX's time excluded those Vasa princes who had been traitors or descended from deposed monarchs. Gustav Adolph's younger brother had died years ago, and therefore there were only females left. Maria Eleonora and the king's ministers took over the government on behalf of Gustav Adolph's underage daughter Christina of Sweden upon her father's death. He left two children of which we are aware: his illegitimate son Gustav, Count of Vasaborg, and his legitimate daughter queen Christina of Sweden

Related Topics:
Christina of Sweden - Count of Vasaborg

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