Gustavus Adolphus Research Paper

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Gustavus Adolphus is the Latin name form of Swedish king Gustav II Adolph or Gustav II Adolf in Swedish. He is also known as Gustav Adolph the great. Gustavus Adolphus is a very important person in European history. Described by E N Williams as "the greatest Swedish King and one of the greatest statesmen in European History", he ruled Sweden from 1611 to 1632. Gustavus was born on December 9, 1594 in Stockholm, Sweden, now the capitol and largest city of Sweden. His parents were father Charles IX of the Vasa dynasty and mother Christina of Holstein-Gottorp. He Married Maria Eleonora, the daughter of Elector John Sigismund of Brandenburg, and together they had one daughter named Christina. Gustavus became king of Sweden on October 30, 1611…show more content…
The thirty years war was a devastating war that affected much of Europe and rebellions seemingly everywhere that lengthened the atmosphere of disorder and violence. The third phase of the war or the “Swedish phase” marked the entry of Gustavus into the war in 1630. He was a military genius who brought a disciplined and well equipped army into Germany. He taught Europe that a small, efficient, well disciplined army is superior to an armed mob. He considered 40,000 troops the limit of effectiveness. A larger number of soldiers he retarded as a hindrance. 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…show more content…
When Gustavus was killed at Lutzen in 1632, Oxenstierna assumed supreme command of Sweden’s forces in the Thirty Years War. The imperial army defeated the Swedes at the battle of Nordlingen. Overall the Peace of Westphalia officially ended the war in Germany in 1648 after 5 years of protracted negotiations. The Day of Gustav Adolph is observed each year on November 6 in Sweden. On this day a special pastry, with a chocolate medallion of the king, is sold. The day is also an official flag day in the Swedish
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